India Successfully Conducts User Trials of Pralay Missile Off Odisha Coast
The Pralay missile, developed by DRDO, is a surface-to-surface, short-range ballistic missile with a strike range of approximately 150 km to 500 km.
Bhubaneswar: India, on Wednesday successfully conducted a series of user trials of the Pralay short-range ballistic missile from Dr Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast, marking a key milestone in the induction process of the indigenously developed weapon system.
Officials said two missiles were test-fired around 10 am, followed by another launch shortly thereafter, as part of a scheduled evaluation programme. The trials were carried out to assess the missile’s operational performance under user-defined parameters, with all objectives achieved and no deviations reported.
The Pralay missile, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), is a surface-to-surface, short-range ballistic missile with a strike range of approximately 150 km to 500 km. Designed for conventional warfare roles, it is capable of delivering precision strikes against strategic targets such as radar installations, command and control centres, and airstrips.
Built entirely with indigenous technology, Pralay underscores India’s push for self-reliance in defence manufacturing under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. The missile can carry a conventional warhead weighing between 500 kg and 1,000 kg, providing flexibility for different operational requirements.
The weapon system is equipped with an advanced Inertial Navigation System (INS), supplemented by a radio frequency seeker, enabling high accuracy and precise terminal guidance. These features allow the missile to maintain its intended trajectory and achieve a high level of impact precision.
Officials said the user trials were conducted to validate the missile’s capabilities under realistic operational conditions and are a crucial step towards its deployment with the armed forces.
