India is going to buy 250 more Pralay ballistic missiles for the services to strengthen them on the northern borders, further boosting the firepower of the defence forces.

Pralay Ballistic Missile

• Pralay is a tactical missile developed from India’s K-series of submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs).
• It has a range of 150-500 km and can carry warheads weighing between 350 to 700 kg.
• The missile is a canisters road-mobile system, which enhances its mobility and allows for quick preparation and launch of the missile.
• Pralay has the ability to perform manoeuvres in flight and follows a quasi-ballistic trajectory to maintain high speed, making it difficult for enemy missile defence systems to intercept.

Classification

• The Indian Defence Ministry has classified Pralay as a “conventional Surface-to-Surface missile”.
• This distinguishes it from the Agni series of missiles, which have the capability to carry either conventional or nuclear warheads.

Testing and launch

• The missile was launched on a quasi-ballistic trajectory in one of the two tests, which enhances its effectiveness against enemy missile defence systems.
• Satellite imagery of the test shows that Pralay is a canisterised road-mobile system, which adds to its mobility and flexibility in responding to evolving threats.

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