India on Wednesday successfully testfired the ‘Pralay’ surface-to-surface ballistic missile, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) officials said. The indigenously developed missile can strike targets at a range from 150 to 500 kms. The surface-to-surface missile has a payload capacity of 500-1,000 kg.
‘Pralay’ is a quasi ballistic surface-to-surface missile. The advanced missile has been developed in a way to able to defeat interceptor missiles. It has the ability to change its path after covering a certain range midair, sources said.
The ballistic missile developed by DRDO is a solid-fuel, battlefield missile that is based on Prithvi Defence Vehicle from the Indian ballistic missile programme.
The Pralay missile was launched from the APJ Abdul Kalam Island around 10.30 am.
A battery of tracking instruments monitored its trajectory along the coast line, PTI quoted sources as saying.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO and associated teams for this maiden development flight trial. He complimented DRDO for the fast track development and successful launch of the modern surface-to-surface missile.
“Congratulations to @DRDO_India and associated teams for the maiden development flight trial. My compliments to them for the fast track development and successful launch of modern Surface-to-Surface Quasi Ballistic missile. It is a significant milestone achieved today,” Singh tweeted.
Secretary DD R&D and chairman DRDO, Dr G Satheesh Reddy appreciated the team and said that this missile is a new generation surface-to-surface missile equipped with modern technologies and induction of this weapon system will give necessary impetus to the armed Forces, the DRDO officials said.
