India's successful flight-test of the Pralay quasi-ballistic missile has drawn significant attention, prompting comparisons with the widely sought-after BrahMos supersonic cruise missile. Developed by the DRDO, Pralay is a short-range tactical ballistic missile featuring a range of up to 500 kilometres and the ability to carry heavy conventional payloads while performing terminal manoeuvres to evade enemy defenses. In contrast, the BrahMos is a two-stage supersonic cruise missile offering versatile land-attack and anti-ship capabilities with sustained high speeds and a lighter warhead. Together, these advanced missile systems represent the cutting edge of India's strategic rocket force and defense manufacturing capabilities.

India's successful flight-test of the Pralay quasi-ballistic missile has drawn significant attention, prompting comparisons with the widely sought-after BrahMos supersonic cruise missile. Developed by the DRDO, Pralay is a short-range tactical ballistic missile featuring a range of up to 500 kilometres and the ability to carry heavy conventional payloads while performing terminal manoeuvres to evade enemy defenses. In contrast, the BrahMos is a two-stage supersonic cruise missile offering versatile land-attack and anti-ship capabilities with sustained high speeds and a lighter warhead. Together, these advanced missile systems represent the cutting edge of India's strategic rocket force and defense manufacturing capabilities.

India's successful flight-test of the Pralay quasi-ballistic missile has drawn significant attention, prompting comparisons with the widely sought-after BrahMos supersonic cruise missile. Developed by the DRDO, Pralay is a short-range tactical ballistic missile featuring a range of up to 500 kilometres and the ability to carry heavy conventional payloads while performing terminal manoeuvres to evade enemy defenses. In contrast, the BrahMos is a two-stage supersonic cruise missile offering versatile land-attack and anti-ship capabilities with sustained high speeds and a lighter warhead. Together, these advanced missile systems represent the cutting edge of India's strategic rocket force and defense manufacturing capabilities.

India's successful flight-test of the quasi-ballistic missile Pralay on Thursday has brought attention to its capabilities and how it compares with the supersonic cruise missile BrahMos, which has been attracting much attention from international customers. A recent report said the Philippines is expected to buy about five BrahMos systems, which is nearly 60 missiles in total.

Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Pralay is a canisterised surface-to-surface, short-range tactical ballistic missile, while BrahMos is a two-stage supersonic cruise missile.

Range and firepower

Pralay has a range of 150 km to 500 km and is capable of carrying multiple types of conventional warheads against various targets.

The missile can carry High Explosive Preformed Fragmentation (HEPF), Penetration-Cum-Blast (PCB) and Runway Denial Penetration Submunition (RDPS) warheads, with payload figures ranging from 350–700 kg to 500–1,000 kg.

BrahMos, meanwhile, has a flight range of up to 290 km and carries a conventional warhead of up to 200 kg.

Speed and flight trajectory

One of Pralay's distinguishing features is its ability to fly at hypersonic speed in a quasi-ballistic trajectory and perform terminal manoeuvres to evade enemy ballistic missile defence systems, according to a defence expert quoted by The Indian Express.

Pralay employs state-of-the-art guidance and navigation to ensure high precision.

BrahMos is a two-stage missile with a solid propellant booster engine as its first stage, which brings it to supersonic speed before separating.

The liquid ramjet, or second stage, then takes the missile closer to Mach 2.8 during the cruise phase.

BrahMos maintains supersonic speed throughout its flight, leading to shorter flight time, lower dispersion of targets and quicker engagement.

It operates on the 'Fire and Forget' principle, adopting different flight paths on its way to the target.

Its cruising altitude can reach 15 km, while its terminal altitude can be as low as five metres. The missile's destructive power is enhanced by its large kinetic energy on impact.

Targets and operational roles

Pralay is designed to target radar and communication installations, command and control centres and advanced airfields using conventional warheads.

The system is road-mobile and meets the tactical ballistic missile requirements of the Indian Army.

BrahMos, on the other hand, has both land-attack and anti-ship capabilities.

The missile has an identical configuration for land, sea and sub-sea platforms and uses a Transport Launch Canister (TLC) for transportation, storage and launch.

Deployment and other capabilities

Pralay is part of the country's strategic Integrated Rocket Force, a dedicated wing of the Strategic Forces Command (SFC).

BrahMos incorporates stealth technology, advanced guidance software, a network-centric architecture, minimum deployment time and high-rate salvo capability.

While Pralay combines a quasi-ballistic trajectory, terminal manoeuvrability and heavier conventional warheads, BrahMos offers sustained supersonic cruise speed, flexible flight paths and multiple launch-platform options.

TAGS