The Defence Ministry has cleared the proposal of buying a regiment of Pralay tactical ballistic missiles for the Indian Army which can strike targets at 150–500 km. It is the first time that a ballistic missile will be inducted into the services for conventional operations, according to senior defence officials.  

A regiment of Pralay ballistic missiles will be deployed along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and the Line of Control (LOC). 

It is India’s first tactical quasi-ballistic missile. Pralay, along with the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, will form the crux of India’s planned Rocket Force. The Pralay missiles, propelled by a solid-propellant rocket motor and other novel technologies, are expected to provide a substantial boost to the Indian Army's offensive capabilities. 

The Pralay missiles are currently being mass-produced and are expected to be ready for operational service soon, the officials added. 

As per information, the acquisition of these missiles is part of a broader strategy to develop a strategic rocket force, a concept advocated by Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat. 

This development comes after the recent remarks of Navy chief Admiral R Hari Kumar, who said General Rawat had been working on the creation of a rocket force to counter enemies on the border. 

The missile was successfully tested twice on two consecutive days last December, and the forces have been working towards its acquisition and induction ever since. 

According to Defence Ministry officials, the decision was taken at the recent meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC). 

The addition of the Pralay, a short-range ballistic surface-to-surface (SRBM) missile, will give more firepower and heft to the Army’s war-fighting capabilities. The missile will give the armed forces the capability to hit enemy positions and key installations in actual battlefield areas. 

Image Source: TOI