Armenia has shown interest in acquiring India’s Pralay missile, presenting a significant opportunity for India. This potential export, following the BrahMos missile export, could enhance the DRDO’s (Defence Research and Development Organisation) reputation as a missile exporter.
DRDO’s Capabilities and Strategic Advantage
DRDO has developed a wide range of missile technologies over decades, and the time has come to leverage these capabilities. The Pralay missile, with its high indigenous content compared to the BrahMos exported to the Philippines, promises greater financial returns per unit.
Regional Strategic Dynamics
Armenia’s interest in the Pralay is partly driven by its need to counter Azerbaijan’s acquisition of the LORA (Long Range Artillery) ballistic missiles from Israel Aerospace Industries. LORA has a range of 400 kilometers and a Circular Error Probability (CEP) of 10 meters with GPS and TV guidance.
Pralay Missile Specifications
- Type: Mobile canister-based Surface-to-Surface Short-Range Ballistic Missile (SRBM)
- Range: 150-500 km
- Guidance: Inertial navigation with terminal guidance using Digital Scene-Matching Area Correlation (DSMAC) and an indigenously developed Fused Silica Radar Dome (RADOME)
- Comparison: Analogous to Russia’s Iskander-M missile, sharing similar range, trajectory, and accuracy characteristics
- Features: Jet vane system for thrust vector control, potential for decoy deployment, and radar signature reduction with small fins
Missile Performance and Interception Challenges
The Pralay’s quasi-ballistic trajectory and high-speed flight path make it challenging to intercept. Unlike ballistic missiles, which follow predictable paths, quasi-ballistic missiles switch to a flatter trajectory, making their flight path less predictable and harder to detect.
Acquisition and Deployment
- Procurement: The Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) cleared the acquisition of around 120 Pralay missiles for the Indian armed forces in December 2022.
- Deployment: Initially intended for the Indian Air Force, with potential future acquisition by the Indian Army.
- Current Status: No contract signing has been reported, and India has not yet exported the missile.
Strategic Lessons from Ukraine
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has highlighted the effectiveness of tactical ballistic missiles for battlefield interdiction and strategic strikes over air-launched cruise missiles, which face higher attrition rates in contested airspace.
Future Prospects
Armenia may be the first country interested in Indian tactical ballistic missiles, but it may not be the last. India’s Bharat Electronics also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Israel’s IAI to produce LORA in India under license, indicating potential future developments in missile technology collaboration.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs):
- What is the primary motivation for Armenia’s interest in acquiring the Pralay missile?
- A) To enhance its space capabilities
- B) To counter Azerbaijan’s LORA ballistic missiles
- C) To improve its naval defense
- D) To replace old artillery systems
- What type of missile is the Pralay?
- A) Surface-to-Air Missile
- B) Air-to-Surface Missile
- C) Surface-to-Surface Short-Range Ballistic Missile (SRBM)
- D) Surface-to-Surface Long-Range Ballistic Missile
- Which feature of the Pralay missile helps it perform evasive maneuvers in the terminal phase?
- A) Optical guidance system
- B) Jet vane system
- C) Solid propellant motor
- D) Radar Dome
- What is the range of the Pralay missile?
- A) 100-300 km
- B) 150-500 km
- C) 200-600 km
- D) 250-700 km
- Which missile shares similar characteristics with the Pralay?
- A) LORA
- B) BrahMos
- C) Iskander-M
- D) Patriot