India successfully test-fires 'Pralay' missile off Odisha coast

BALASORE (Odisha): Aiming to boost its defence capabilities along the volatile borders with China and Pakistan, India test-fired its surface-to-surface short-range ballistic missile (SRBM), ‘Pralay’, on Tuesday. The test-firing from the Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast was a success, said a defence official.

‘Pralay’ is a short-range, surface-to-surface missile that is capable of striking enemy targets that lie about 350-500 km distance. It can carry a payload of 500-1,000 kg. The solid-fuel, battlefield missile is based on the Prithvi Defence Vehicle.

The missile has been developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in view of the country’s defence requirements along its borders with neighbouring China and Pakistan, he said.

‘Pralay’ has been developed for deployment along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) on the border with China, and the Line of Control (LoC) along Pakistan border. Both have historically been the key focus and priority of India’s defence establishment.

The official said the ‘Pralay’ missile can be compared with Russia’s ‘Iskander’, which was used in the ongoing war with Ukraine, and also China’s ‘Dong Feng 12’. Pakistan also has tactical ballistic missiles in its defence system.

Earlier this year, the Defence Ministry had cleared the proposal to buy these missiles for the Indian Army to be deployed along the land borders.

The development of the weapon started in 2015 after the defence establishment realised the need for a tactical ballistic missile in its arsenal, a capability that both China and Pakistan have. It was tested twice earlier, on December 21 and 22 last year.