DRDO Successfully Tests Pralay Missile Twice, Confirms Operational Readiness

In a major boost to India’s tactical missile capability, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully carried out two consecutive flight tests of the Pralay missile on July 28 and 29, 2025, from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast. These trials were part of user evaluation tests aimed at validating the missile’s maximum and minimum range capabilities.

The missile hit its intended targets with pinpoint accuracy, meeting all mission objectives. According to DRDO officials, all subsystems functioned flawlessly. The flight paths were closely tracked by a network of sensors, radars, and a ship-mounted monitoring system near the target area, ensuring every parameter was recorded and evaluated in real time.

Pralay is a solid-propellant, quasi-ballistic missile developed entirely in India. It is fitted with advanced navigation and guidance systems, enabling it to strike with high precision. The missile can carry multiple types of warheads, making it capable of neutralizing a wide range of targets in different combat scenarios. The project is led by Research Centre Imarat (RCI) in partnership with other DRDO labs, and support from industry leaders like Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), and several Indian MSMEs.

The recent tests hold special importance because they demonstrate how the missile performs under real-world operational conditions, a critical step before it is inducted into the Indian Armed Forces. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO scientists, Armed Forces personnel, and industry collaborators for their achievement. He noted that Pralay represents a significant advancement in India’s defense preparedness to tackle future challenges.

Originally initiated in 2015, the Pralay missile program has undergone multiple successful tests over the years. Its growing maturity has already led to the Indian Army and Air Force approving its acquisition, and the latest trials bring it closer to full operational deployment.

In a related achievement, DRDO also tested a new version of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Launched Precision Guided Missile (ULPGM) on July 25, 2025. This latest version, ULPGM V3, features a dual-channel seeker, day-and-night attack capability, and modular warheads suited for anti-armour, bunker-busting, and high-lethality missions, reflecting DRDO’s broader push to modernize India’s missile systems across multiple platforms.

With these recent successes, DRDO continues to reinforce its role as a critical pillar in India’s defense ecosystem, strengthening the country’s strategic and tactical strike capabilities.