Pralay (Apocalypse),
sanctioned in March 2015, is a canisterised, tactical Short Range
Ballistic Missile (SRBM) for battlefield use developed by the Defence
Research & Development Organisation (DRDO). The missile is an
amalgamation of technologies developed for exoatmospheric interceptor missile
Prithvi Defence Vehicle (PDV) and Prahaar tactical missile. Research
Centre Imarat (RCI) is the lead integrator in this project. Powered by two-stage
solid fuel rocket motor, the Inertial Navigation System (INS) guided missile
follows quasi-ballistic trajectory and able to perform mid-air manoeuvres using
Manoeuvrable Reentry Vehicle (MaRV) to defeat Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM)
interceptors.
Pralay
SRBM uses the same composite propellant developed by High Energy
Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL) for submarine launched Sagarika/‘K’
missile family. The composite solid propellant is highly efficient and
generates more energy compared to propellant used in Agni missile series.
Road mobile (on 8 x 8 BEML-Tatra Transporter Erector Launcher) Pralay
SRBM carries 350-kg to 700-kg High Explosive (HE) preformed fragmentation warhead,
Penetration-Cum-Blast (PCB) and Runway Denial Penetration Submunitions (RDPS)
at a range of 150-km to 500-km. Pralay SRBM is designed to target radar and
communication installations, Command & Control nodes and airfields
using conventional warhead. The missile weighs 5-tonnes and sports a
maximum speed of Mach 1.6 at terminal phase and promises high accuracy with a
Circular Error Probable (CEP) of less than 10-metres.
On
25 December 2022, Ministry of Defence (MoD) cleared the order for 120
missiles to be operated by Indian Air Force (IAF). This was followed by another
order of two more units of 250 Pralay SRBM to be operated by Indian Army (IA)
in April 2023. The project would provide a significant boost to the armed
forces' efforts to develop a strategic rocket force, as advocated by late Chief
of Defence Staff, General Bipin Rawat. Pralay SRBM, along with the BrahMos
supersonic cruise missile as well as the Smerch and indigenous Pinaka Multi-Barrel
Rocket Launchers (MBRL), plus a few other systems under development, will form
the crux of India’s planned Rocket Force.
Sayan Majumdar