Pralay (missile): Difference between revisions

| is_missile = yes

| name = Pralay

| image = Launch of indigenously developed surface-to-surface missile Pralay (cropped).jpg

| image_size = 200

| caption = Maiden flight test of surface-to-surface missile Pralay.

| origin = [[India]]

| type = [[Tactical ballistic missile]], [[SRBM]]

| used_by = [[Indian Army]]

| designer = [[Defence Research and Development Organisation]]

| manufacturer =  

| unit_cost =  

| propellant = [[Solid  propellant|Solid]]

| production_date =  

| service =  

| engine = Two stage [[rocket motor]] with third stage [[MARV|MaRV]]<ref name="tnie-8sep18">{{cite news |last1=Rout |first1=Hemant Kumar |title=Pralay set for maiden launch |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2018/sep/08/pralay-set-for-maiden-launch-1869189.html |work=The New Indian Express |date=8 September 2018}}</ref>

| engine_power =  

| weight = {{convert|5|t}}<ref name="tnie-8sep18">{{cite news |last1=Rout |first1=Hemant Kumar |title=Pralay set for maiden launch |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2018/sep/08/pralay-set-for-maiden-launch-1869189.html |work=The New Indian Express |date=8 September 2018}}</ref>

| length =  

| height =  

| diameter =  

| wingspan =  

| speed = '''Terminal phase: '''{{convert|1|Mach|km/h mph km/s}} to {{convert|1.6|Mach|km/h mph km/s}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Warhead of Pralay |url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Warhead_of_Pralay.jpg |website=Wikimedia Commons |access-date=22 December 2021}}</ref>  

| vehicle_range = {{cvt|150|–|500|km}}<ref>{{cite news |title=Flight test of short-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile ‘Pralay’ successful |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/flight-test-of-ballistic-missile-pralay-successful-7685426/ |access-date=22 December 2021 |agency=ENS |publisher=The Indian Express |date=22 December 2021}}</ref>

| ceiling =  

| altitude =  

| filling = [[High explosive]] preformed fragmentation (PCB, RDPS)<ref>{{cite web |title=Prithvi Missile Warheads - Airforce Version |url=https://www.drdo.gov.in/technology-cluster-links/labs-products-detail/2646/174 |website=Armament Research & Development Establishment |publisher=Defence Research and Development Organisation |access-date=22 December 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Warhead of Pralay |url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Warhead_of_Pralay.jpg |website=Wikimedia Commons |access-date=22 December 2021}}</ref>  

| filling_weight = {{convert|370|kg|lb|abbr=on}} - {{convert|700|kg|lb|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite web |title=DRDO Technology Focus : Warhead for Missiles, Torpedoes and Rockets |url=https://www.drdo.gov.in/sites/default/files/technology-focus-documrnt/TF_May-Jun_2018_web.pdf |website=Defence Research and Development Organisation |publisher=Ministry of Defence |access-date=22 December 2021}}</ref>

| guidance = [[Inertial navigation system]]<ref name="tnie-8sep18"/>

| accuracy = <{{convert|10|m|ft}} [[Circular error probable| CEP]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://delhidefencereview.com/2017/06/13/pralay-indias-new-under-development-conventional-strike-surface-to-surface-missile/|title=PRALAY: India's New Under Development Conventional Strike Surface-to-Surface Missile|last=Jha|first=Saurav|date=2017-06-13|website=Delhi Defence Review|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-11-08}}</ref>

| launch_platform = 8 x 8 [[BEML]]-[[Tatra (company)|Tatra]] [[transporter erector launcher]]

'''Pralay''' ("[[Pralaya]] : destruction") is a canisterised [[Surface-to-surface missile|surface-to-surface]] [[Tactical ballistic missile|tactical]] [[short-range ballistic missile]] (SRBM) for battlefield use developed by the [[Defence Research and Development Organisation]] (DRDO) of [[India]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://worldview.stratfor.com/article/sizing-competition-doklam-plateau|title=Sizing Up the Competition on the Doklam Plateau|author=|date=|website=Stratfor|accessdate=30 April 2018}}</ref><ref name="tnie-8sep18" /> The missile is the amalgamation of technologies developed for [[exoatmospheric]] interceptor missile [[Prithvi Defence Vehicle]] (PDV) from [[Indian Ballistic Missile Defence Programme]] and [[Prahaar (missile)|Prahaar]] tactical missile.<ref name="tnie-8sep18" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Philip|first=Snehesh Alex|date=2021-12-22|title=Why Pralay quasi-ballistic missile, tested by DRDO today, will be a 'game-changer' for Army|url=https://theprint.in/defence/why-pralay-quasi-ballistic-missile-tested-by-drdo-today-will-be-a-game-changer-for-army/785809/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-12-22|website=ThePrint|language=en-US}}</ref> The project to develop Pralay was sanctioned in March 2015 with a budget of {{INRConvert|332.88|c|lk=on|year=2015}}.<ref name="scd-report30">{{cite web|title=Thirtieth Report on ''Demands for Grants of the Ministry of Defence for the year 2017-18 pertaining to Revenue Budget of Ordnance Factories, Defence Research and Development Organisation, DGQA and NCC (Demand No. 20)''|url=https://eparlib.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/65189/1/16_Defence_30.pdf|publisher=Lok Sabha Secretariat|location=New Delhi|page=59|date=9 March 2017}}</ref>

At the moment, the only means for the [[Indian Army]] to strike targets at distances of close to 500 km is the [[BrahMos]] supersonic cruise missile, which though deadly accurate, can carry a payload of only about 200 kg or so, besides being somewhat expensive. As such, the [[Indian Army]] in recent times has felt the need for a SRBM with a range of around 500 km that can also carry a sizeable payload. [[Defence Research and Development Organisation]] lab [[Research Centre Imarat]], Hyderabad is the lead integrator of this project. Pralay missile is comparable to China's [[Dongfeng_(missile)#Dongfeng_12_(CSS-X-15)|Dongfeng 12 (CSS-X-15)]] also known as M20 and Russian [[9K720 Iskander]] missile. Pralay is a solid fuel missile that follows a quasi-ballistic trajectory and can perform mid-air manoeuvres using [[maneuverable reentry vehicle]] (MaRV) to defeat [[anti-ballistic missile]] (ABM) interceptors.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Chakraborty|first=Abhishek|date=22 December 2021|title=Watch: India Successfully Tests 'Pralay' Missile. Has Ability To Change Path Midair|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/india-successfully-tests-pralay-missile-off-odisha-coast-2664670|url-status=live|access-date=2021-12-22|website=NDTV}}</ref>  

Pralay uses a new generation of [[composite propellant]] that [[High Energy Materials Research Laboratory]] (HEMRL) started working on during the development phase of [[Sagarika (missile)|Sagarika]] from [[K Missile family]]. The solid fuel is highly efficient and can provide more energy compare to the fuel used in [[Agni (missile)|Agni missile]] series. The objective is to help miniaturize future missiles without compromising on operational range.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Unnithan|first=Sandeep|date=31 December 2021|title=The ‘K’ factor in the recent missile tests|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india-today-insight/story/the-k-factor-in-the-recent-missile-tests-1894315-2021-12-30|url-status=live|access-date=2022-01-01|website=India Today|language=en}}</ref> 

 

Pralay can carry 350 kg to 700 kg [[high explosive]] preformed [[Fragmentation (weaponry)|fragmentation]] warhead, Penetration-Cum-Blast (PCB) and [[Anti-runway penetration bomb|Runway Denial Penetration Submunition]] (RDPS) at a range of 150 km to 500 km which can target radar and communication installations, [[command and control]] centers and [[Advance airfield|advance airfields]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Biswas |first1=Ramakanta |title=Maiden Flight Test Of ‘Pralay’ Missile Conducted Successfully Off Odisha Coast |url=https://odishatv.in/news/national/maiden-flight-test-of-pralay-missile-conducted-successfully-off-odisha-coast-166740 |access-date=22 December 2021 |agency=PTI |publisher=Odisha TV |date=22 December 2021}}</ref> Since, most of the available [[short-range ballistic missile]] (SRBM) in India are of [[Strategic nuclear weapon|strategic]] purpose which can raise false alarm of [[nuclear strike]] in a [[conventional warfare]] scenario.<ref>{{cite news |title='Pralay' quasi ballistic missile successfully tested for 2nd consecutive day |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/science/pralay-quasi-ballistic-missile-successfully-tested-for-2nd-consecutive-day/articleshow/88449908.cms |access-date=23 December 2021 |agency=ANI |publisher=The Times of India |date=23 December 2021}}</ref> The Pralay missile is specifically developed to be highly mobile and meet the conventional [[tactical ballistic missile]] requirement of the [[Indian Army]].<ref>{{cite news |title=India successfully test fires Pralay ballistic missile, which can strike target 500 km away |url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/india-successfully-test-fires-pralay-ballistic-missile-which-can-strike-target-500-km-away-10229261.html |access-date=22 December 2021 |agency=ANI |publisher=Firstpost |date=22 December 2021}}</ref> Upon induction, Pralay missile will become part of [[Regiment of Artillery (India)|Regiment of Artillery]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Philip|first=Snehesh Alex|date=2021-12-22|title=Why Pralay quasi-ballistic missile, tested by DRDO today, will be a 'game-changer' for Army|url=https://theprint.in/defence/why-pralay-quasi-ballistic-missile-tested-by-drdo-today-will-be-a-game-changer-for-army/785809/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-12-22|website=ThePrint|language=en-US}}</ref>

 

The development of Pralay started from 2015 and it took four years to test the required technologies. DRDO will conduct four test flight before the missile system will become operationalized.<ref name=":1" />

On 22 December 2021, DRDO conducted the maiden test of Pralay from the [[Abdul Kalam Island]]. It met all the mission objectives and followed the desired quasi ballistic trajectory reaching the designated target with high degree of accuracy, validating controls, guidance system and mission algorithms.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=22 December 2021|title=DRDO conducts maiden launch of indigenously developed new generation surface-to-surface missile 'Pralay'|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/drdo-conducts-maiden-launch-of-indigenously-developed-new-generation-surface-to-surface-missile-pralay/articleshow/88430908.cms|url-status=live|access-date=2021-12-22|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1784136|website=PIB|title=DRDO conducts maiden launch of indigenously developed new generation surface-to-surface missile ‘Pralay’|date=22 December 2021|access-date=23 December 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 23 December 2021, DRDO conducted second test of Pralay from the [[Abdul Kalam Island]]. This is the first time in history that two consecutive tests of conventional ballistic missile like ‘Pralay’ were conducted successfully. The second test concluded with a heavier payload and different range to check the precision and lethality of the missile.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Siddiqui |first1=Huma |title=India tests Pralay missile again! Game changer for the Indian Army |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/defence/india-tests-pralay-missile-again-game-changer-for-the-indian-army/2388077/ |access-date=23 December 2021 |publisher=Financial Express |date=23 December 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Gupta|first=Shishir|date=2021-12-23|title='Pralay', India's first conventional ballistic missile, test-fired again|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/pralay-india-s-second-conventional-ballistic-missile-testfired-101640235805392.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-12-23|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1784515|website=PIB|title=DRDO successfully conducts second flight-test of indigenously developed conventional Surface-to-Surface missile ‘Pralay’|date=23 December 2021|access-date=23 December 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>