In a significant boost to India’s cross-service deterrence, DRDO announced the successful completion of two critical flight trials for its Pralay quasi-ballistic missile. These tests—one at minimum, one at maximum range—have proven the system’s full envelope, paving the way for its induction into the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
The Pralay, with its precision strike and maneuverable warhead, represents a new class of battlefield missile. What sets it apart isn’t just its range (150–500 km), but its ability to evade even advanced missile shields, giving India a decisive edge in tactical flexibility.
Defence analysts see these trials as a prelude to a broader missile ecosystem where stand-off, rapid-deployment assets provide commanders with unprecedented options for deterrence or rapid escalation—in step with the realities of South Asia’s evolving threat matrix.
