Pralay Missile With 500 Kilometer Range Successfully Tested

India has test-fired Pralay, a tactical Short Range Ballistic Missile (SRBM) developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) under a classified project.

The missile, which has remained wrapped in secrecy till now, has a range of 150 to 500 kilometres, the DRDO has said.

It was test-fired from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast at 11.06 am today (22 December), the agency noted.

"The missile, test-fired off the Odisha coast, has met all its objectives. The new missile followed the desired quasi ballistic trajectory and reached the designated target with high degree accuracy, validating the control, guidance and mission algorithms," the DRDO's statement read.

"Various telemetry, radar, electro-optical stations and downrange ships positioned along the eastern coast tracked and monitored the missile trajectory and parameters. The missile followed textbook trajectory, meeting all mission objectives with a high level of accuracy," it added.

The development of the missile began after the Indian Army sought a 500-km range SRBM to go head-to-head against China's rocket force.

A report in The New Indian Express says that the missile is comparable to China's Dongfeng 12 and Russia's 9K720 Iskander, both of which are also short-range tactical ballistic missiles.

Pralay, the report claims, is a derivative of the Prithvi Defence Vehicle exo-atmospheric interceptor missile, which the DRDO developed as part of India's ballistic missile defence programme.

Pralay missile has been tested just days after India test-fired Agni Prime nuclear-capable ballistic missile, which has a range of 1,000-2,000 kilometres.