The decision to add more firepower to the Army‘s military capabilities was reached during a recent meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council, and it represents a pivotal development for the Army, defence officials told ANI.
Pralay will be the longest-range surface-to-surface missile in the inventory of the Army.
Pralay, along with the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, will form the crux of India’s planned Rocket Force.
Both China and Pakistan have already deployed ballistic missiles for tactical purposes, and the ‘Pralay’ missiles, developed by the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), are poised for further enhancements in range as per military requirements.
The procurement follows a similar approval granted to the Indian Air Force for the acquisition of these missiles.
All you need to know about Pralay:
- The ‘Pralay’ ballistic missiles have a strike range spanning 150 to 500 kilometers.
- It is capable of carrying a conventional warhead of about 350 kg to 700 kg, which gives it a deadly punitive capability.
- It can also carry a high explosive preformed fragmentation warhead, penetration-cum-blast (PCB) and runaway denial penetration submunition (RDPS).
- ‘Pralay’ is classified as a quasi-ballistic surface-to-surface missile, featuring advanced capabilities designed to thwart interceptor missiles.
- It exhibits the capability to alter its trajectory mid-flight after covering a certain distance.
- The missile is propelled by a solid propellant rocket motor and incorporates cutting-edge technologies in its guidance system, including state-of-the-art navigation and integrated avionics.
- It can be compared to China’s Dong Feng 12 and the Russian Iskander missile that has been used in the ongoing war with Ukraine.
- This missile system’s development commenced around 2015 and was significantly driven by the late General Bipin Rawat during his tenure as Chief of Army Staff.