India tests Pralay quasi-ballistic missile off Odisha’s Chandipur:Destroys target 500 km away; deadliest conventional missile to be deployed on Pakistan border

DRDO successfully tested the Pralay missile on Tuesday from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur, Odisha, and Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island. This is the missile known as a quasi-ballistic missile. The missile, developed by DRDO, can carry various types of warheads against different targets at distances of up to 500km. Before the test, a NOTAM covering a 595km radius was issued. In addition, people living within a 2km radius of the test range were evacuated. What is a quasi-ballistic missile? A conventional ballistic missile climbs steeply, then falls back to earth along a predictable arc. Pralay follows a lower trajectory, can change direction in flight and manoeuvres during its final phase, which makes it much harder for air defences to intercept. It is to be inducted into both the Army and the Air Force. Short-range, high-precision weapons of this kind are seen as a potential game-changer along the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan. Pakistan border link The Army specifically requested the missile for the western and northern borders. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has approved the purchase of 120 missiles. It is expected to join the new Rocket Force, which would be tasked with destroying enemy airbases, fuel depots and command centres within the first 30 minutes of a conflict. Second success in 24 hours The day before, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) carried out three successful tests of the Very Short Range Air Defence (VSHORADS) system from the same range. It can shoot down drones and helicopters up to 6km away. According to the source, work is now under way on an Air Force version, the Pralay-ALBM, and a longer-range Pralay-2.