India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) closed 2025 with a major breakthrough in indigenous missile capability, successfully carrying out a salvo launch of two Pralay quasi-ballistic missiles on December 31. The test marked a critical step toward the operational induction of what is emerging as one of India’s most potent conventional strike weapons.
The user evaluation trials were conducted at around 10:30 am from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur, Odisha, using a land-based mobile launcher. In a clear demonstration of rapid-fire reliability, both missiles were launched in quick succession from the same platform — a capability that significantly enhances battlefield survivability and strike effectiveness.
According to official statements from the DRDO and India’s Ministry of Defence, both Pralay missiles followed their planned quasi-ballistic trajectories and met all mission parameters. Tracking sensors, ground-based radars, electro-optical systems, and a ship deployed near the designated impact zone collected extensive telemetry data. This data confirmed high levels of precision and accuracy, as well as the successful performance of the missile’s guidance, navigation, and control systems during all phases of flight, including the critical terminal stage.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh hailed the test as a defining achievement, congratulating the DRDO, the Indian Army, the Indian Air Force, defence public sector undertakings (DPSUs), and private industry partners. He said the successful salvo launch had firmly “established the reliability of the Pralay missile system,” underlining its readiness for deployment.
Dr. Samir V. Kamat, Secretary of the Department of Defence Research and Development and Chairman of DRDO, echoed this assessment, noting that the achievement reflected strong coordination between scientists, engineers, production agencies, and the armed forces. He indicated that the missile system is now approaching full operational readiness and is poised for induction into India’s strike formations.
Named after the Sanskrit word meaning “apocalypse” or “widespread destruction,” Pralay has been developed under Project Pralay, which received formal approval in March 2015. Since then, the missile has undergone rapid development, culminating in a system that fills a long-standing gap in India’s conventional strike arsenal.
Pralay is a canisterised, short-range, surface-to-surface tactical missile designed for precision warfare. It has been developed specifically for conventional missions, aligning with India’s strategic requirement to strengthen deterrence while avoiding nuclear escalation. The missile combines mobility, accuracy, and lethality, making it well suited for fast-moving battlefield scenarios.
One of Pralay’s defining features is its quick-reaction capability. The missile can be launched within minutes of receiving orders, transitioning from command to launch in roughly 60 seconds. Mounted on a land-based mobile launcher, a single 12×12 vehicle can carry two missiles, enabling either simultaneous strikes on separate targets or coordinated attacks on a single objective from different trajectories to improve kill probability. Each launcher is supported by a dedicated Battery Command Centre vehicle that manages communications and operational control.
Technically, Pralay represents India’s first indigenous conventional quasi-ballistic missile. Unlike traditional ballistic missiles that follow a predictable arc once their motors burn out, Pralay adopts a quasi-ballistic profile. After launch, it transitions to a flatter trajectory and performs in-flight maneuvers, making its path harder to predict and significantly more difficult for enemy air defence systems to intercept.
Military analysts note that this unpredictability is a key advantage. In simple terms, if an adversary cannot reliably forecast a missile’s flight path, engagement windows shrink and interception becomes far more challenging. By flying lower and maneuvering within the atmosphere, Pralay reduces radar detection ranges and complicates tracking.
Powered by a solid-propellant rocket motor, the missile never exits the atmosphere and can carry a payload ranging from roughly 350 to 1,000 kilograms. It is compatible with multiple warhead types, including sub-munitions, penetration-cum-blast warheads, and pre-fragmented payloads, giving commanders flexibility across a wide range of target sets.
During mid-course flight, Pralay relies on inertial navigation, while its terminal phase employs advanced seekers — including millimeter-wave radar — for precise targeting. The missile is reported to achieve a circular error probability (CEP) of around 10 meters, placing it among the most accurate systems in its class. Its thrust vector control system, using jet vanes, enables sharp evasive maneuvers in the terminal phase, further reducing vulnerability to interception.
Once inducted, Pralay is expected to bridge a crucial operational gap between longer-range ballistic missiles such as Prithvi and shorter-range systems like the Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher. With an effective range band that covers approximately 150 to 500 kilometers, it offers India a powerful conventional option for deep precision strikes.
Defence analysts frequently compare Pralay to Russia’s Iskander-M quasi-ballistic missile, a system that has gained a formidable reputation in recent conflicts. Both missiles emphasize maneuverability, high accuracy, and terminal guidance to defeat air defences. While their guidance architectures differ, the conceptual similarity underscores India’s entry into an elite category of advanced conventional strike capabilities.
Strategically, Pralay significantly strengthens India’s posture along both its western and northern fronts. In a potential conflict with Pakistan, the missile’s range would place critical military infrastructure — including airbases, command nodes, and troop concentrations — within reach, while its accuracy minimizes collateral damage. Analysts argue this provides India with escalation control by enabling decisive conventional strikes below the nuclear threshold.
As India continues to modernize its armed forces amid complex regional security challenges, the successful salvo launch of Pralay signals not just a technological milestone, but a clear statement of intent: India is steadily building credible, precise, and survivable conventional deterrence for the future battlefield.
