DRDO Developing Rudram-4 A2G Missile Range 1500 Km

India’s next-generation missile, Rudram-4, is not just another variant of the Pralay missile—it’s a distinct, advanced addition to the Rudram series, offering unmatched reach, speed, and precision.

What We Know: Rudram vs. Pralay

• Pralay is a surface-to-surface tactical ballistic missile developed by DRDO. It is roughly 5 tonnes in weight, two-staged, travels at about Mach 6.1, and is launched from ground-based transporter erector launchers. Its role is strategic ground strike, not aerial launch. 

• Rudram-4, by contrast, belongs to a family of air-launched, air-to-surface missiles designed to neutralize enemy ground-based defenses like radar, command centers, and bunkers. It’s hypersonic and optimized for operations launched from fighter aircraft. 

Rudram-4: Speed, Range, and Tactical Edge

Below is a snapshot of how the Rudram series has evolved:

• Rudram-4 is being developed as a Long-Range Stand-Off Weapon (LRSOW) with a projected range between 1,000 and 1,500 km.

• It’s designed for hypersonic speeds (faster than Mach 5), making interception extremely challenging. 

• The missile will likely use a quasi-ballistic trajectory with low-altitude maneuvers, ideal for evading advanced air-defenses. 

• Equipped with INS-GPS/ENG guidance and possibly Imaging Infrared (IIR) or passive homing heads, Rudram-4 aims for pinpoint accuracy against hardened or radar-equipped targets. 

• It’s designed to integrate with multiple fighter platforms such as Su-30MKI, Mirage 2000, and Rafale, enhancing deployment flexibility. 

• Development got a boost in 2023 when the Defence Acquisition Council approved its Acceptance of Necessity (AoN), signaling path to operational deployment within 3–4 years. 

Strategic Implications

• Rudram-4 is a game-changer in India’s SEAD/DEAD (Suppression/Destruction of Enemy Air Defenses) capabilities. Its combination of range and speed could neutralize threats deep inside adversary territory while keeping Indian aircraft at safe stand-off zones.

• Designed especially to counter threats from China and Pakistan, it addresses sophisticated air defense systems like the HQ-9 and S-400. 

• The development of Rudram-4 represents India’s growing competence in hypersonic missile technology, alongside global powers like Russia, China, and the US.

• It underscores India’s commitment to indigenous, network-centric defense capabilities and enhances deterrent credibility.

Rudram-4 stands as a distinct and significant leap beyond the Pralay missile—offering hypersonic speed, extended reach (1,000–1,500 km), low-altitude maneuverability, and multi-platform aerial launch capability. Rather than being an A2G version of Pralay, it represents a strategic and technological evolution in air-to-ground strike capacity.