On 5 November 2026, at about 1110 hours, the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) flight-tested the quasi-ballistic missile Pralay from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island, off the coast of Odisha. The Press Information Bureau (PIB) said that all test objectives were fully met, as confirmed by the range instruments of the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur.
The launch was part of user evaluation trials, witnessed by senior DRDO officials, industry representatives and members of the Defence Forces. The release ends with the line that matters most for the story: with this successful test, the induction of the system has become imminent. Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh complimented DRDO, the Defence Forces and the industry partners.
For a missile that has been tested since 2021, that sentence marks a change. Pralay is moving from development into service. This article explains what "quasi-ballistic" means, who built the missile, how the tests have unfolded, and where Pralay sits among India's missiles.
The test in brief
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Date and time | 5 November 2026, about 1110 hrs |
| Launch site | Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island, off Odisha |
| Tracking | Range instruments of the ITR, Chandipur |
| Type of test | User evaluation trials |
| Developer | Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad, with other DRDO laboratories |
| Production partner named | Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) |
| Outcome | All test objectives met; induction described as imminent |
Two terms in this table are worth knowing. A user evaluation trial is a test in which the intended users, here the Army and the Air Force, watch the missile perform and judge whether it meets their requirement. It comes after the developer's own trials and before induction. A Development-cum-Production Partner (DcPP) is an industry firm, usually a public-sector unit such as BDL or Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), that takes part in building the system from the development stage, so that production can start without a long hand-over later.
Ballistic, cruise and quasi-ballistic: three ways to fly
The word "quasi" means "almost", and the name is best understood by comparing the three kinds of missile.
A ballistic missile is powered only for the first part of its flight. A rocket motor burns, lifts the missile high, and then falls silent. After burnout the warhead follows a curved, free-fall path, like a thrown stone, and comes down on its target. Its flight path is high, fast and, once the motor is spent, predictable. Prithvi and the Agni family are ballistic missiles.
A cruise missile is powered all the way, usually by a jet or ramjet engine that breathes air. It flies low, close to the ground or sea, and can steer around obstacles. It is slower than a ballistic missile at the end of its flight, but its low path makes it hard to see on radar. BrahMos and Nirbhay are cruise missiles, and our explainer on the LRLACM cruise missile test sets out the engine differences in detail.
A quasi-ballistic missile borrows from both. It is launched with a rocket motor, as a ballistic missile is, and it climbs steeply. However, it follows a lower, flatter trajectory than a classic ballistic missile, staying within or near the atmosphere, and, crucially, it can change its course in the later stages of flight. A purely ballistic missile cannot do this once its motor has burned out.
That ability to manoeuvre has two practical effects:
- It is harder to intercept. Missile-defence radars predict where a ballistic warhead will land by tracing its arc. A warhead that bends away from the predicted arc makes that calculation unreliable.
- It can be more accurate. The missile's guidance and navigation system can correct its path, so it can be steered onto a precise point instead of landing wherever its arc ends.
| Feature | Ballistic | Cruise | Quasi-ballistic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power in flight | Only at the start | Throughout | Rocket motor at the start |
| Path | High arc, then free fall | Low and level | Lower, flatter arc |
| Course change late in flight | No | Yes | Yes |
| Indian example | Prithvi, Agni | BrahMos, Nirbhay | Pralay |
What Pralay is, and what it is for
The PIB describes Pralay as an indigenously developed, solid-propellant, quasi-ballistic missile that uses state-of-the-art guidance and navigation to ensure high precision, and that is capable of carrying multiple types of warheads against various targets. A 2021 PIB release called it a conventional surface-to-surface missile, which means it is meant for conventional, not nuclear, warheads. Two points follow from that description.
Solid propellant means the fuel and oxidiser are cast together into a solid block inside the motor. Compared with a liquid-fuelled missile, which must be fuelled before launch, a solid-fuel missile can be kept ready and launched quickly. That matters for a weapon meant to be used at short notice on a battlefield.
Surface-to-surface means it is fired from the ground against targets on the ground. Pralay is launched from a wheeled launcher vehicle, so it can be moved and hidden between launches.
PIB does not publish Pralay's range or warhead weight. Open reports, which vary, put its range at about 150 to 500 km and its payload in the region of 500 to 1,000 kg. These are reported figures, not DRDO's official numbers, so treat them as approximate. The role is better established. Pralay is a tactical battlefield missile, meant for targets such as airfields, command posts, troop concentrations, radar sites and air-defence units. It lets commanders strike deep inside an opponent's territory with conventional force, without escalating to a nuclear weapon.
The Pralay family tree: Prahaar, the Prithvi Defence Vehicle and propellants
No missile is built from nothing. Pralay is reported to draw on technologies DRDO had already proved:
- Prahaar, a short-range, solid-fuelled tactical missile, supplied the idea of a quick-reaction battlefield missile on a mobile launcher.
- The Prithvi Defence Vehicle (PDV), the interceptor used in India's ballistic-missile-defence trials, supplied high-precision guidance and control.
- Composite solid propellants developed for the strategic programmes supplied the rocket motor technology.
That is why a missile sanctioned only around 2015 (reported cost ₹332.88 crore) could fly its first test in 2021.
Who built it: a laboratory-by-laboratory picture
The PIB release of 31 December 2025 listed the DRDO laboratories behind Pralay. The list shows how a single missile needs many specialisms. The laboratory roles below are standard descriptions of what each lab does.
| Laboratory or partner | Place | Typical contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Research Centre Imarat (RCI) | Hyderabad | Lead lab: guidance, navigation, avionics and system integration |
| Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL) | Hyderabad | Missile systems and propulsion |
| Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL) | Hyderabad | Strategic missile systems |
| Armament Research & Development Establishment (ARDE) | Pune | Warheads and armament |
| High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL) | Pune | Propellants and explosives |
| Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory (DMRL) | Hyderabad | Special alloys and materials |
| Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL) | Chandigarh | Testing the effect of warheads on targets |
| Research & Development Establishment (Engineers) [R&DE (E)] | Pune | Launchers and engineering systems |
| Integrated Test Range (ITR) | Chandipur, Odisha | Tracking, telemetry and test range |
| BDL and BEL | Hyderabad and Bengaluru | Development-cum-production partners |
Bharat Dynamics Limited, the public-sector firm that makes missiles in Hyderabad, produced the system for the 5 November test. The Army and Air Force, as the users, judge the missile against their own requirements. Many Indian MSMEs are also reported to supply parts, which is the purpose of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat push in defence.
Five tests, five years: how Pralay got here
The test record is simple to learn as a timeline, and the examiner favours such sequences.
- 22 and 23 December 2021: the first and second flight-tests, from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island. The PIB noted that this was the first time two consecutive flight-tests of a ballistic missile had been done on two consecutive days. The second flight tested a heavier payload and a different range, proving the missile in both of its configurations.
- 7 November 2023: a further flight-test, reported in the press as successful.
- 28 and 29 July 2025: two consecutive flights as user evaluation trials, meant to validate the maximum and minimum range capability. The Chairman of DRDO then said this phase-1 testing paved the way for induction.
- 31 December 2025: a salvo launch of two missiles in quick succession from the same launcher. Both followed their intended path, and the terminal events were confirmed by telemetry on a ship near the impact points. The Raksha Mantri said it had established the reliability of the missile.
- 5 November 2026: the latest user evaluation trial, with induction now called imminent.
The sequence follows the normal route for a weapon: prove the design, prove the extremes of range, prove it can fire repeatedly from one launcher, and then let the user decide. A salvo test matters because a battlefield missile has to be used in numbers and from a launcher that must move before the enemy locates it.
Pralay also appeared in public on 26 January 2025, when DRDO displayed the Pralay weapon system at the 76th Republic Day Parade on Kartavya Path. The PIB called it a surface-to-surface tactical missile, and it was shown with the DRDO tableau.
Where Pralay sits in India's missile family
Our explainers on Agni-4 and the LRLACM cover the longer-range missiles. Pralay belongs lower down, in the tactical, short-range tier.
| Missile | Type | Reported range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prithvi | Ballistic, surface-to-surface | About 150 to 350 km (Prithvi-I to III) | India's first ballistic missile, from the IGMDP |
| Pralay | Quasi-ballistic, conventional | About 150 to 500 km (reported) | Tactical battlefield missile; induction imminent |
| BrahMos | Supersonic cruise | About 290 km at origin; extended versions longer | India–Russia joint venture |
| Nirbhay | Subsonic cruise | About 1,000 km | Indigenous long-range cruise missile |
| Agni series | Ballistic | About 700 km to over 5,000 km | Strategic, under the Strategic Forces Command |
Pralay's reported maximum of 500 km is not an accident. Under the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), which India joined in 2016, the most sensitive "Category I" systems are those that can carry 500 kg or more over 300 km or more. A missile reported at 150 to 500 km sits close to that line, which shapes both its design and any possible export version. Treat that point as context, not as an official statement about Pralay.
IGMDP: where it all started
The Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP), launched in 1983 under Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, built India's first generation of missiles: Prithvi, Agni, Trishul, Akash and Nag. It was formally closed in 2008. The programme changed how India builds weapons. DRDO now designs and develops, and industry, led by BDL and BEL, produces. Pralay is a later product of the same system.
The test site also has a history. Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island, formerly Wheeler Island, was renamed in 2015. Together with the ITR at Chandipur on the Balasore coast it forms the eastern missile range of India. Radars, telemetry and electro-optical trackers there, with ships near the impact point, verify that the missile followed the planned path.
Why it matters
Three reasons stand out.
- Indigenous precision at the tactical level. The Army has long relied on rocket artillery such as Pinaka for short ranges and on ballistic missiles for strategic work. A conventional, manoeuvring missile in the 150 to 500 km class fills the space between them.
- Conventional deterrence. A weapon that can destroy an airfield or a command centre with a conventional warhead gives commanders options short of nuclear escalation.
- Self-reliance. A missile developed by DRDO and produced by public-sector partners reduces dependence on imports. The Raksha Mantri's remark that the missile will strengthen operational preparedness against emerging threats fits this theme.
Questions remain open. The PIB does not state the number of missiles on order, the service that will operate them or the date of induction. Reports have spoken of Army and Air Force interest and of orders in 2022–23, but these are press accounts and not official announcements. Watch for a formal Defence Acquisition Council or Ministry of Defence statement.
🔑 Revision block
The test. 5 November 2026, about 1110 hrs, from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island (Odisha); tracked by ITR Chandipur; all objectives met; user evaluation trials; induction imminent.
The missile. Pralay: solid-propellant, quasi-ballistic, conventional, surface-to-surface; reported range about 150–500 km; multiple warhead types; PIB gives no range or payload.
Quasi-ballistic. Rocket-powered start; lower, flatter path; can change course late in flight; harder to intercept; cruise-like manoeuvre with a ballistic launch.
Who. Developed by Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad with DRDL, ASL, ARDE, HEMRL, DMRL, TBRL, R&DE (E) and ITR; production partners BDL and BEL.
Timeline. 22–23 Dec 2021 first two flights · 7 Nov 2023 reported test · 28–29 Jul 2025 min/max range trials · 31 Dec 2025 salvo of two · 5 Nov 2026 latest trial · 26 Jan 2025 Republic Day Parade display.
Context. IGMDP 1983 (Kalam; closed 2008): Prithvi, Agni, Trishul, Akash, Nag · MTCR membership 2016 · Wheeler Island renamed after Kalam in 2015.
🎯 Practice MCQs
Q1. A quasi-ballistic missile differs from a purely ballistic missile mainly because it:
(a) Is powered by a jet engine throughout its flight
(b) Is always launched from a submarine
(c) Has a nuclear warhead only
(d) Follows a lower path and can change course late in its flight
→ (d)
Pralay is launched by a rocket motor like a ballistic missile, but its flatter path and ability to manoeuvre late in flight make it harder to intercept. Powered flight throughout describes a cruise missile.
Q2. The lead laboratory in the development of Pralay is:
(a) Defence Research & Development Laboratory, Hyderabad
(b) Research Centre Imarat, Hyderabad
(c) High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, Pune
(d) Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory, Chandigarh
→ (b)
The PIB names Research Centre Imarat, Hyderabad, as the developer, working with the other DRDO laboratories.
Q3. The latest Pralay flight-test on 5 November 2026 was conducted from:
(a) Pokhran Field Firing Range, Rajasthan
(b) Car Nicobar
(c) Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha
(d) Sriharikota
→ (c)
The test was from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island, formerly Wheeler Island, with the ITR at Chandipur tracking it. Sriharikota is the satellite launch centre.
Q4. A 'Development-cum-Production Partner' in a DRDO programme is:
(a) A foreign firm that sells the design to India
(b) A Service unit that trains the users
(c) An industry firm that helps build the system from its development stage
(d) A state government that provides land for tests
→ (c)
Bharat Dynamics Limited and Bharat Electronics Limited are the DcPPs for Pralay. The idea is to avoid a long gap between development and production.
Q5. Consider the following statements about the Pralay programme:
1. The 31 December 2025 test was a salvo launch of two missiles from the same launcher.
2. PIB has officially announced Pralay's range as 500 km.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
→ (a)
The salvo launch is in the PIB release of 31 December 2025. PIB does not publish the range; 150–500 km is a reported figure.
Q6. The Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) did NOT produce which of the following?
(a) Pralay
(b) Prithvi
(c) Akash
(d) Nag
→ (a)
The IGMDP, launched in 1983, produced Prithvi, Agni, Trishul, Akash and Nag. Pralay is a later DRDO development.
Q7. The Missile Technology Control Regime, which India joined in 2016, is concerned with:
(a) The testing of nuclear weapons underground
(b) Limiting the spread of missiles and related technology
(c) The ban on chemical weapons
(d) The use of outer space for military purposes
→ (b)
The MTCR is a voluntary group that controls the export of missiles and delivery technology. Underground nuclear tests are the subject of the CTBT and chemical weapons that of the Chemical Weapons Convention.
Q8. Which pair of missiles correctly matches the type of flight path?
(a) Prithvi: cruise; BrahMos: ballistic
(b) Agni: cruise; Nirbhay: ballistic
(c) Pralay: subsonic cruise; BrahMos: quasi-ballistic
(d) BrahMos: supersonic cruise; Prithvi: ballistic
→ (d)
BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile and Prithvi is a ballistic missile. In every other option at least one type is swapped.
📋 How this gets asked (PYQ pattern)
Defence is the largest current-affairs lane in the NDA General Ability Test, and missile tests produce questions in three forms.
The first is classification: the examiner gives a missile and asks whether it is ballistic, cruise or something in between, or whether it is surface-to-surface or surface-to-air. Learn each name against its type, as in the table above.
The second is the organisation: who developed the missile and where it was tested. "DRDO" and "Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island" are the common answers, with the trap that the options may carry other test sites or other agencies such as ISRO.
The third is the programme: the IGMDP's five original missiles and its dates (1983 to 2008). The "which of these was NOT produced" form is a classic.
At the SSB, a missile test can become a lecturette on defence self-reliance or the role of conventional deterrence. A strong answer separates what the government has stated from what is only reported, as this article does for range and payload.
Preparing for NDA? Make one table of every missile you meet: type, range, developer, user. It answers most defence questions in the GAT. Read the Indian Army page in our Defence GK hub, build the base with our NDA study material, follow the daily NDA current affairs, and train with serving-standard faculty in the upcoming Cavalier courses in Delhi.
Source: PIB / Ministry of Defence, "DRDO conducts successful flight-test of quasi-ballistic missile 'Pralay'", 5 November 2026; PIB releases of 23 December 2021, 29 July 2025 and 31 December 2025 on earlier Pralay flight-tests; PIB, 23 January 2025 (Republic Day Parade). Range, payload, cost and induction details are from press reports and are marked as reported.
✍️ Written by Col Vijayant Thakur — Veteran, Indian Army; SSB & defence-studies faculty at The Cavalier. Reviewed by the Cavalier Faculty Desk.