DRDO conducts salvo launch of Pralay missiles

The Defence Research and Development Organisation on Tuesday successfully conducted a salvo launch of two indigenously developed Pralay missiles from the same launcher off the Odisha coast.

The flight tests were carried out at around 10.30 a.m. on December 31 as part of user evaluation trials. Launched in quick succession, both missiles followed the intended trajectory and met all mission objectives, officials said.

The launches were tracked by sensors of the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, while telemetry systems installed on ships positioned near the impact points confirmed the terminal events.

Pralay is a solid-propellant, quasi-ballistic missile equipped with advanced guidance and navigation systems for precision strikes. It is capable of carrying different types of warheads against a range of targets.

The missile has been developed by the Research Centre Imarat, Hyderabad, in collaboration with several DRDO laboratories. Bharat Dynamics Limited and Bharat Electronics Limited are the development-cum-production partners, with support from other Indian industries.

Senior DRDO scientists witnessed the tests along with representatives from the Indian Air Force, the Indian Army, and industry.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO, the armed forces, defence public sector undertakings, and industry on the successful salvo launch, saying it demonstrated the reliability of the Pralay missile system.

Secretary, Department of Defence Research and Development and Chairman DRDO, Dr. Samir V. Kamat, said the successful trials indicate the system’s readiness for induction by the user services.