The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) of India successfully conducted a flight test of the indigenously developed quasi-ballistic missile Pralay off the coast of Odisha on Thursday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced.
The test was carried out at approximately 11:10 hrs from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island as part of user evaluation trials. All stipulated objectives were successfully met, with performance validated by data captured through various range instruments deployed by the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, the Ministry of Defence said in an official statement.
In a post on Facebook (and earlier on X), Rajnath Singh wrote: “DRDO successfully conducted the flight test of the indigenously developed Pralay Missile off the coast of Odisha today at 1110 hrs. The test was conducted as part of user evaluation trials and successfully met all the stipulated objectives, as validated by data captured through various range instruments. This successful trial marks another significant milestone in strengthening India’s indigenous defence capabilities.”
The Raksha Mantri congratulated DRDO, the Defence Forces, and industry partners on the achievement. He noted that the missile, equipped with advanced technologies, would further enhance the technological capabilities and operational preparedness of the military against emerging threats.
About the Pralay Missile
Pralay is a solid-propellant, canisterised surface-to-surface quasi-ballistic missile developed primarily by Research Centre Imarat, Hyderabad, in collaboration with other DRDO laboratories. Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) is a key development-cum-production partner and has manufactured the system.
Key features include:
- A strike range of roughly 150–500 km, depending on payload.
- Payload capacity of 500–1,000 kg.
- Ability to carry multiple types of conventional warheads.
- Advanced guidance and navigation systems for high precision.
- Mid-course and terminal manoeuvrability, which makes interception more difficult compared to traditional ballistic missiles.
The missile is designed for precision tactical strikes against a range of military targets and is intended for deployment with the Indian Army and Indian Air Force. With this successful user evaluation trial, its induction into the armed forces is now considered imminent. Previous tests of Pralay have been conducted since its maiden flight in December 2021.
The test was witnessed by senior officials from DRDO, representatives of the defence industry, and members of the armed forces. Defence Secretary and DRDO Chairman Rajesh Kumar Singh also congratulated the teams involved.
The successful trial reinforces India’s push toward self-reliance (Atmanirbharta) in critical defence technologies, reducing dependence on imported tactical strike systems while strengthening conventional deterrence capabilities along its borders.