The Indian Army will soon get the indigenously developed short-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile Pralay, which translates as "catastrophe," defense sources told local media.
The Indian Defense Ministry is expected to approve the acquisition as early as this week.
So, exactly how destructive is this missile that India is going to deploy along its border with China?
India’s state-owned Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) describes the Pralay as a "new generation" missile that incorporates advanced guidance technology and is based on the Prithvi AD missile of the DRDO's Ballistic Missile Defense system.
Surface-to-surface missile ‘Pralay’
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The mobile canister-based missile uses the indigenously developed Fused Silica Radar-Dome (RADOME) to locate the designated targets and is able to hit them from a distance of 150 to 500 km.
RADOME protects the navigation system from an adverse environment, which makes it especially proficient along the border with China, where the armies of the two countries engaged in a fresh faceoff on December 9.
Defense scientists have tested the missile on a number of occasions in a quasi-ballistic trajectory, increasing its chances of overcoming notional missile defenses.
The missile also features a jet vane system for thrust vector control, suggesting the missile can maneuver sharply to home in on its target. The launch platform’s mobility also makes it difficult to halt a launch.
Indian defense officials compare the five-ton Pralay with China’s Dongfeng 12 and Russia’s 9K720 Iskander -- two short-range tactical ballistic missiles.