On Thursday, the Defence Ministry confirmed that the Pralay missile, a short‑range, quasi‑ballistic system, launched from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island, just off Odisha’s coast, reached its target at 1110 hrs.
Developed by DRDO’s Research Centre Imarat and other labs, Pralay can carry 500‑1,000 kg warheads, including conventional payloads, and relies on solid‑fuel propulsion and advanced navigation for pinpoint accuracy.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, speaking to X, said the flight test met all user‑evaluation objectives and hailed the achievement as a ‘significant milestone’ in India’s indigenous defence capabilities.
Bharat Dynamics Limited, a production partner, will manufacture the system once induction is cleared, while the Ministry flagged that operational deployment could begin by the end of the fiscal year.
A local fisherman, Ramesh Kumar, who has watched several tests from the island, said the launch boosted his confidence that India can protect its coastal waters without relying on foreign tech.
The next phase will see Pralay integrated into the Navy’s coastal defense network and tested in joint exercises with the Army and Air Force by Q3 2026.