The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has approved the proposal of procuring a whole regiment of the indigenous Pralay tactical ballistic missiles which have the capability of striking targets at 150-500 kms.
- With this, Pralay is set to become the Army’s longest-range surface-to-surface missile, with the ability to strike targets ranging from 150 to 500 kilometers away.
- It is indigenous short-range ballistic surface-to-surface missile.
- These missiles are intended for deployment along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and Line of Control (LoC), essentially the borders with China and Pakistan, respectively.
- It change its flight path mid-flight after covering a certain distance, making it challenging for interceptor missiles to track.
- The Pralay missiles are propelled by solid-propellant rocket motors and incorporate cutting-edge technologies, promising to significantly enhance the Indian Army’s offensive capabilities.
- It was first tested in 2011.
- One of Pralay’s standout features is its quasi-ballistic nature. It maintains a low trajectory, behaving mostly like a ballistic missile, but it retains the ability to manoeuvre during flight, making it challenging to intercept.
- Unlike intercontinental ballistic missiles that exit the Earth’s atmosphere, short-range ballistic missiles like Pralay stay within it.
