Indian Defence ministry clears purchase of Pralay tactical ballistic missiles.

According to a report in India Today by Manjeet Negi, the Indian Army is poised to acquire its first-ever regiment of Pralay tactical ballistic missiles as part of a broader strategy aimed at developing a strategic rocket force.
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Pralay missiles are capable of striking targets within a range of 150 to 500 kilometers. It will be the first time that a ballistic missile will be introduced into India's conventional military operations (Picture source: DRDO)

Senior defense officials have confirmed that the Indian Defence Ministry has approved the purchase of a regiment of Pralay tactical ballistic missiles for the Indian Army. These missiles are capable of striking targets within a range of 150 to 500 kilometers. This marks the first time that a ballistic missile will be introduced into conventional military operations.

Pralay, which translates to "Apocalypse," is a canisterized tactical surface-to-surface short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) developed by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). It represents a fusion of technologies derived from the Indian Ballistic Missile Defence Programme, specifically the exoatmospheric interceptor missile Prithvi Defence Vehicle (PDV), and the Prahaar tactical missile. The project to develop Pralay was sanctioned in March 2015 with a budget of ₹332.88 crore (equivalent to US$63 million in 2023).

The Research Centre Imarat (RCI) is the lead integrator for this project. Comparable foreign missiles in the same category include the Dongfeng 12 (CSS-X-15), Precision Strike Missile, 9K720 Iskander, and the Hyunmoo 2 missile. Powered by a solid-fuel rocket motor, the Pralay missile follows a quasi-ballistic trajectory and possesses the ability to perform mid-air maneuvers using a maneuverable reentry vehicle (MaRV) to evade anti-ballistic missile (ABM) interceptors.

Pralay employs the same composite propellant developed by the High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL) for the Sagarika missile from the K Missile family. This composite propellant is highly efficient and generates more energy compared to the propellant used in the Agni missile series.

The Pralay missile is equipped with a high-explosive preformed fragmentation warhead, Penetration-Cum-Blast (PCB) capability, and Runway Denial Penetration Submunition (RDPS). It has a range of 150 km to 500 km and is designed to target radar and communication installations, command and control centers, as well as advanced airfields using conventional warheads. The system is road-mobile and fulfills the tactical ballistic missile requirements of the Indian Army. Importantly, Pralay bridges the gap for a conventionally armed ballistic missile that is not restricted by the 'No First Use' nuclear policy.

Efforts are currently underway to further extend the missile's range by several hundred kilometers. The Pralay missiles are in the process of mass production and are expected to be ready for operational service in the near future, according to officials.

Defense News September 2023