India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted a salvo launch of two Pralay quasi-ballistic surface-to-surface missiles from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur, Odisha, on December 31, 2025. The salvo launch — where both missiles were fired in quick succession — demonstrated the operational readiness of the missile system for rapid, simultaneous engagement of targets. The Pralay missile is a short-range, solid-propellant ballistic missile with a strike range of 150 to 500 kilometres and a payload capacity of 500 to 1,000 kilograms. It is designed for precision strikes against high-value enemy assets including enemy airfields, logistics hubs, and command-and-control structures. Unlike conventional ballistic missiles, Pralay follows a quasi-ballistic trajectory — it can manoeuvre mid-flight, making interception by enemy air defence systems more difficult. The missile system was inducted into the Indian Army in 2023 and is considered a key element of India's conventional deterrence posture along its land borders, particularly given the simultaneous two-front challenge from Pakistan and China. The successful salvo test validates DRDO's domestic development capability and supports the government's Aatmanirbhar Bharat defence manufacturing push. Pralay is part of a family of DRDO tactical strike systems that also includes Prahaar and Pranash.
DRDO Successfully Conducts Salvo Launch of Two Pralay Ballistic Missiles at ITR Chandipur; Range 150–500 km
India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted a salvo launch of two Pralay quasi-ballistic surface-to-surface missiles from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur, Odisha, on December 31, 2025. The salvo launch — where both missiles were fired in quick succession — demonstrated the operational readiness of the missile system for rapid, simultaneous engagement of targets. The Pralay missile is a short-range, solid-propellant ballistic missile with a strike range of 150 to 500 kilometres and a payload capacity of 500 to 1,000 kilograms. It is designed for precision strikes against high-value enemy assets including enemy airfields, logistics hubs, and command-and-control structures. Unlike conventional ballistic missiles, Pralay follows a quasi-ballistic trajectory — it can manoeuvre mid-flight, making interception by enemy air defence systems more difficult. The missile system was inducted into the Indian Army in 2023 and is considered a key element of India's conventional deterrence posture along its land borders, particularly given the simultaneous two-front challenge from Pakistan and China. The successful salvo test validates DRDO's domestic development capability and supports the government's Aatmanirbhar Bharat defence manufacturing push. Pralay is part of a family of DRDO tactical strike systems that also includes Prahaar and Pranash.
Key facts
- DRDO successfully conducted salvo launch of two Pralay ballistic missiles at ITR Chandipur around January 3, 2026.
- Both missiles were fired in quick succession demonstrating operational readiness for rapid engagement.
- Pralay is a short-range, solid-propellant ballistic missile with 150-500 km strike range.
- The missile can carry a payload of 500 to 1,000 kg for conventional warheads.
- The system is designed for rapid deployment and can be launched from mobile platforms.
- Pralay enhances the Indian Army's tactical strike capabilities against enemy installations.
PYQPrelims/PYQ angle
- RAS 2024 Indigenization in defence production, missile and space technologies — Both address India's indigenous missile development capability under the Atmanirbhar Bharat defence manufacturing initiative.
Mains angle
Q: Evaluate the strategic significance of DRDO's salvo launch of Pralay ballistic missiles for India's conventional deterrence posture.
Answer (50 words):
DRDO conducted a salvo launch of two Pralay quasi-ballistic missiles from Chandipur, Odisha, on December 31, 2025. With 150-500 kilometre range and 500-1,000 kilogram payload capacity, Pralay's mid-flight manoeuvrability complicates enemy interception. Inducted into the Indian Army in 2023, this test validates rapid simultaneous engagement capability under India's Aatmanirbhar Bharat defence initiative.
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What is the strike range of DRDO's Pralay quasi-ballistic surface-to-surface missile, whose salvo launch was conducted from the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur, on 31 December 2025?
DRDO's official release confirms the successful salvo launch of two Pralay missiles from the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur, on 31 December 2025. An earlier PIB release on Pralay states that the missile has a range of 150-500 km and is powered by a solid-propellant rocket motor with advanced guidance and navigation systems.
Source: PIB / DRDO
Frequently asked questions
What is a salvo launch and why is it significant for the Pralay missile system?
A salvo launch refers to the rapid sequential or simultaneous firing of two or more missiles in quick succession. For the Pralay missile system, the successful salvo launch demonstrated that the system can engage multiple targets almost simultaneously, significantly enhancing operational flexibility and making it harder for enemy air defence systems to intercept all incoming missiles. This capability is critical for saturating adversary defences in a conflict scenario.
What are the key technical specifications of the Pralay ballistic missile?
The Pralay is a quasi-ballistic, surface-to-surface, solid-propellant missile with a strike range of 150 to 500 km. It can carry a conventional payload of 500 to 1,000 kg. Being solid-fuelled, it can be stored ready-to-fire and launched quickly from mobile road-mobile platforms, giving it a significant tactical advantage over liquid-fuelled systems in terms of rapid deployment.
Where is ITR Chandipur located and what is its significance for India's missile testing?
The Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur is located on the Odisha coast near Balasore, along the Bay of Bengal. It is India's premier missile testing facility managed by DRDO. Its coastal location allows missiles to be fired over the sea, enabling safe testing of a wide range of ballistic and surface-to-surface missiles with full range and warhead impact assessment capabilities.
How does the Pralay missile differ from traditional ballistic missiles in terms of flight trajectory?
Unlike traditional ballistic missiles that follow a high, predictable parabolic trajectory, the Pralay is classified as a quasi-ballistic missile. It can manoeuvre during its flight — particularly in the terminal phase — making it significantly harder to intercept using conventional air defence systems. This manoeuvrability is a key tactical advantage and is similar to China's DF-12 and Russia's Iskander systems.
What is the strategic importance of the Pralay missile for the Indian Army's tactical operations?
Pralay gives the Indian Army a precision conventional strike capability against high-value enemy targets such as airfields, ammunition depots, radar installations, and command centres within a 150-500 km range. Its solid-fuel design allows rapid deployment from mobile launchers, and the salvo capability enables simultaneous strikes on multiple targets. It fills a critical gap in India's tactical strike arsenal between short-range rockets and longer-range ballistic missiles.
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