Furthering its missile technology and strategic weapons system programme consistently , India successfully conducting maiden flight testing of “Pralay” missile on December 22 is indicative of not only its indigenous capable technology and knowhow but marching ahead towards its mission of self reliance in almost all of its defence needs. The name of the new generation missile ‘Pralay” which is an aeonic term for dissolution denotes the levels of its effectiveness in striking the target with precision , lethality and to finish it off. It is pertinent to note that even the entire exercise being the maiden one, met all its mission objectives after being launched from APJ Abdul Kalam Island in Balasore, Odisha. Not only that , a subsequent and second flight test and all successful was conducted the next day , on December 23 . This surface -to- surface missile ”Pralay” is a ballistic missile which is known for being with a high arching trajectory initially powered and guided strategic weapons system from the launch site but lands under gravity on to its target, duly delivering the lethal payload .
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is, therefore, credited with having developed flight test of a ballistic missile and that too for the first time and has resulted in adding one more feather to its cap of the missile technology developing programme. The difference between the two launches in two days consecutively can be seen in terms of payload carrying capacity of Pralay as the second test flight was done with a heavy payload. The range of this missile being 150 to 500 kilometre is powered with solid propellant rocket motor and other latest new technologies and its immense utility can be visualised in conditions where the enemy targets are of a comparative short range and at a distance quite near as 150 kilometres. Monitoring the twin launches by all the range sensors , instruments, radar and other highly sophisticated devices deployed on the eastern coast and the downrange ships positioned near the impact point , highlights high precision success of the test firing with zero errors.
Nowadays, wars cannot be fought with conventional weapons and ways only but with latest technologies and India, vulnerable to threats from two belligerent neighbours , must develop its capabilities in a scenario where advanced countries have developed such an arsenal and hypersonic weapons which fly over five times faster than even the speed of sound . India has , therefore, to develop such arsenal so as to maintain the levels of minimum credible deterrence against the known adversaries. In other words, India has entered the elite club of China, Russia and the US in developing such hypersonic weapons system and has already conducted the test of hypersonic technology demonstrator vehicle and is planning to repeat such a test early next year. That means, we have to gird up our loins to match our strategic weapons system with that of the latest with the elite but highly advanced countries in missile technology system.
It needs to be noted that Indian Armed Forces have the (conventional) ramjet powered ”Brahmos” supersonic cruise missile with a short range of between 290 to 400 km but it also is a fact that the speed of the hypersonic weapons, the latest, should be the aim of the country’s defence needs. Since our immediate and most belligerent neighbour is China which has stolen the march even over the US in matters of developing hypersonic weapons with nuclear warheads , we must strive every nerve to keep matching our missile technology with that country and not only hypersonic weapons but in all other weapons technology in case we are to demonstrate a deterrent approach and keep at bay aggressive and hostile intentions from our known adversaries.
Pertinent to mention that on December 23, not only was the test flight of ”Pralay” repeated very successfully but also the country made unmanned aerial target system “Abhyas” . This crucial test firing has been developed and built by Aeronautical Development Establishment of the DRDO to meet the requirements of the aerial targets of the Indian Armed Forces. Being what technically is known as High- speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT) it is controlled by a ground based controller and homemade navigation system, all demonstrating the capabilities of making such sophisticated missile system indigenously . Abhyas is fitted with Global Positioning System (GPS) and an on board flight control computer and a miss- distance indicator unmanned target system in the air.
This is the moment to recall the farsightedness and a visionary approach of the first CDS Late Gen. Bipin Rawat that ”we cannot afford to be status quoists and have to accept changes,” changes in the policies and perceptions of the country so as to be in readiness to meet modern challenges in the warfare with greater emphasis on producing defence needs as far as possible indigenously. If it is said that it is the period of missiles – all in modern warfare , it will only be confirming the reason behind almost all advanced countries developing more of these rocket propelled weapons with intent to deliver an explosive payload not only with greater accuracy but with greatest speed. Both in small range tactical missile system and to much larger strategic missiles having ranges of several thousand miles, we have still to do more to be on the top.
It is quit heartening that on regular basis our missile system programme is sharpening its teeth with emphasis on more lethal and wide range covering ballistic missiles to seek to defend our territories from any attack from a missile by locating and tracking it . An interceptor can thus be launched to destroy the enemy missile much before it can reach its target. In all types of missiles , say , air- to-air, air -to- surface , surface-to-air, anti-ship and anti-tank or short range, medium range , intermediate range and even intercontinental ballistic missiles, constant endeavours of research and test launching should be and in fact is our defence culture . ”Agni”-5 , for instance is an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) developed by the DRDO with a range of over 5500 kilometres sending shivers to our enemies. The country, therefore, is constantly keeping the entire missile system ”updated” and more ”modernised” in tune with the requirements in respect of prevailing threat perception from well known sources.
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