Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted two consecutive successful flight-tests of Pralay missile from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam island off the coast of Odisha.
UPSC CSE Relevance:
UPSC CSE in prelims examination has focused on Defence sector in GSIII. A case in point is a following PYQ.
UPSC CSE PYQ 2014:
Q: With reference to Agni-IV Missile, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. It is a surface-to-surface missile. 2. It is fuelled by liquid propellant only. 3. It can deliver one-tonne nuclear warheads about 7500 km away. Select the correct answer using the code given below. A 1 only B 2 and 3 only C 1 and 3 only D 1, 2 and 3
Important facts about Pralay:
Indigenously-developed
Solid propellant
Quasi-ballistic – will be the first ballistic missile in India’s missile arsenal meant for conventional strikes. [Quasi ballistic – because of its low altitude trajectory and maneuverability unlike conventional ballistic missiles.]
Surface-to-surface missile
Range of 400 Km
Employing state-of-the-art guidance and navigation to ensure high precision.
Capable of carrying multiple types of warheads against various targets.
Developed by Research Centre Imarat in collaboration with other DRDO labs and industry partners – Bharat Dynamics Limited & Bharat Electronics Limited and many other industries and MSMEs.
Pralay adds to the BrahMos and Parahar missiles already in the inventory giving the Indian military an option for standoff missile strikes across the border.
Comparable with China’s Dong Feng-12, Russian 9K720 Iskander, US Army’s Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) and South Korea’s Hyunmoo-2, Pralay is designed to deceive anti-ballistic missile interceptors.
Aspect
Cruise Missiles
Ballistic Missiles
Flight Path
Remain within the Earth’s atmosphere, fly at low altitudes
Arched trajectory: boost, midcourse (may exit atmosphere), and terminal phases.
Propulsion
Powered by jet engines (air-breathing) throughout their flight
Powered by rockets only during initial phase
Maneuverability
Guided and maneuverable throughout flight; high precision.
Guidance only during early (boost) phase; follow ballistic (pre-set) path
Speed
Usually subsonic or supersonic
Fast: supersonic or hypersonic, especially intercontinental missiles
Detectability
Hard to detect (low altitude, can evade radar)
Easier to detect (visible during boost; high radar/infrared cross-section)
Payload
Typically single, smaller warheads
Capable of carrying larger, multiple warheads (including nuclear)
Targeting
Used for tactical, precise strikes on specific targets
Used for strategic, long-range mass destruction; cities, major assets
Examples (India)
BrahMos, Nirbhay
Agni series, Prithvi series, K-series
Practice Question:
Question: Consider the following statements about Pralay Missile
It is air-to-surface missile.
It will be the first ballistic missile in India’s missile arsenal meant for conventional strikes.
It has 4000km range with Solid propellant fuel.
How many of the above statements is/are incorrect?
