India's "Pralay" Tactical Missile with Twin Launchers and Enhanced Accuracy to Bolster India's Defence Along China-Pak Border

India's Republic Day parade on 20th January 2025 showcased a significant advancement in the nation's missile capabilities with the first public display of the "Pralay" missile system's twin launcher configuration. Developed DRDO, the Pralay is a quasi-ballistic surface-to-surface missile designed to enhance India's defence capabilities along its borders with China and Pakistan.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) and Indian Army have already placed orders for Pralay missiles, with the IAF ordering 120 units in December 2022 and the Army following suit with an order for 250 units in 2023.

The prominent display of the missile system during the Republic Day parade suggests that a new batch is ready for deployment along critical border regions, including the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China and the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan.

With an operational range of 150 to 500 kilometers, the Pralay missile provides a significant boost to India's tactical strike capabilities. The newly unveiled twin launcher configuration allows for the consecutive launch of two missiles, increasing its effectiveness in combat situations. This development is particularly crucial given the ongoing border tensions with China and Pakistan.

The Pralay missile is equipped with advanced guidance systems, ensuring high accuracy with a Circular Error Probable (CEP) of less than 10 meters. Efforts are underway to further refine its precision to achieve a CEP of less than 4 meters. The missile also boasts a terminal speed of Mach 6.1 and incorporates a millimeter-wave seeker housed in a fused silica radome for precise targeting, making it a formidable asset in modern warfare.

The development of the Pralay missile system aligns with India's strategic objectives to strengthen its defence capabilities and maintain a credible deterrent against potential adversaries. Its deployment along the LAC and LoC is expected to significantly enhance India's military posture in the region.

 

[PKPRS]

Very cool, like Iskander, ATACMS launcher can only launch one missile.

 

[Andy S]

Why not in canister?

 

[Dipesh Debnath]

Very cool, like Iskander, ATACMS launcher can only launch one missile.

Iskander launcher can launch 2. ATACMS wheeled launcher is an all-purpose launcher, so a multi-rocket launcher can be reconfigured to launch only one ATACMS. But 2 ATACMS can be launched from a tracked MLRS launcher.

 

[Dipesh Debnath]

Why not in canister?

I think it's a showpiece for parade, similar to Brahmos at parade where a welded ramjet nosecone is attached to the front of the canister to show the missile to people. Actual brahmos is fully containerised and does not stick out like that.

 

[Venkat S]

Very cool, like Iskander, ATACMS launcher can only launch one missile.

Are you able to see the launcher? Suggest you go through the article again. PRALAY TEL is configured for launching 2 PRALAY missiles. Please check Iskander launch videos. They are launched one after the other.

 

[Enforcer]

I believe its time for India to also start developing advanced Thermobaric warheads and advanced cluster warheads. I believe Pralay is equipped with a unitary warhead. I have seen few videos from Ukraine war where you see a ballistic missile strike. Unfortunately sometimes typical unitary warheads don't completely destroy the target like a large building or a large convoy of vehicles or a bridge. While accuracy is the most important thing, advanced warhead design is also very very important and need lots of live fire trails to figure it out.

Basically the point is, these missiles are very very expensive and typically you only want to launch 1 missile per target and it can get expensive and risky if multiple missiles are required to effectively neutralize the target.

 

[Kira]

I believe they should develop a canister for storing these missiles,as they provide higher protection from the elements.

 

[Kira]

Why not in canister?

I am also wondering the same thing, but as @Dipesh Debnath points out, may be it's for the parade display purposes, and any operational units will be housed inside a canister.

 

[PKPRS]

Are you able to see the launcher? Suggest you go through the article again. PRALAY TEL is configured for launching 2 PRALAY missiles. Please check Iskander launch videos. They are launched one after the other.

It can only launch two missiles consecutively not simultaneously just like Iskander both can carry two missiles, the main difference between these duo is they can be used against moving targets, while ATACMS can only be used against fixed targets.

 

[PKPRS]

You should know the difference between a battlefield support missile and MBRL. ATACMS is an MBRL, not an SRBM. And FYI, Iskander cannot hit moving targets. It's for taking out high-value stationary assets. So is Pralay. Even MBRL will not see success against any moving target. Loitering munitions and UCAVs are the best options for taking out any moving enemy assets.

Iskander can hit moving targets, please check your facts, ATACMS could be configured to work in different ways in different launchers, MBRL is one of the config.

 

[Venkat S]

It can only launch two missiles consecutively not simultaneously just like Iskander both can carry two missiles, the main difference between these duo is they can be used against moving targets, while ATACMS can only be used against fixed targets.

You should know the difference between a battlefield support missile and MBRL. ATACMS is an MBRL, not an SRBM. And FYI, Iskander cannot hit moving targets. It's for taking out high-value stationary assets. So is Pralay. Even MBRL will not see success against any moving target. Loitering munitions and UCAVs are the best options for taking out any moving enemy assets.

 

[Sandeep]

This is good news but we need to order these in much larger quantities. In a heavy intensive war these will be used up within a day. It’s great that these missiles have the capability to evade an interception missile launched by the enemy but we should continue to bring down the CEP to less than 5 metres.

We should also make it compatible with different type of warheads from high explosives, cluster munitions, penetration then blast missile and armoured vehicles munitions.