Current Affairs

Issue

The DRDO has successfully carried out the maiden test of ‘Pralay’, a new surface-to-surface conventional quasi-ballistic missile.

 

Background

The missile was launched from APJ Abdul Kalam island off the coast of Odisha.

 

Details

The missile has a range of 150-500 km and has a low trajectory. It is based on Prithvi Defence Vehicle from the Indian ballistic missile programme.

 

Features

• The missile is capable of being launched from a mobile launcher and has latest navigation system and integrated avionics to improve its functioning.

• The missile is powered with solid propellant rocket motor.

 

Significance

• The advanced missile has the capability to defeat interceptor missiles launched towards it path of flight. 

• It has the ability to change its path after covering certain range mid-air and is difficult to be tracked by enemy radars

 

Prithvi Defence Vehicle

• It is an interceptor vehicle that has the capability to engage targets in exo-atmosphere region at an altitude above 50 km of the earth’s atmosphere.

• It is fitted with Imaging Infrared (IIR) seeker to distinguish between incoming warheads and decoys. 

• It works on two stages of which the first stage is a Solid fuelled motor while the second stage is Liquid fuelled.

 

Ballistic missiles

• A ballistic missile follows a curved trajectory to deliver one or more warheads on a predetermined target.

• These missiles are controlled only during initial flight unlike cruise missiles which are guided during their complete flight.

• Ballistic missiles have the capacity to carry conventional high explosives as well as chemical, biological, or nuclear munitions.