India Successfully Test Fires Short-Range Surface-to-Surface Tactical Ballistic Missile “Prahaar”
Prahar, surface-to-surface tactical missile, a contemporary weapon system capable of carrying multiple types of warheads and neutralizing a wide variety of targets, was successfully flight tested by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) from Launch Complex-III, Integrated Test Range (ITR), Balasore – defence facility off Odisha Coast, on September 20, 2018. The missile travelled a range of 200 km before zeroing in on the target, achieving all mission objectives, as Range stations and electro optical systems tracked and monitored missiles trajectory throughout its flight. Chief of the Army Staff General Bipin Rawat and DRDO Chairman G. Satheesh Reddy witnessed the launch and complimented all the team members.
Prahar was launched from a road-mobile launcher, which can carry six missiles at a time and can be fired in salvo mode in all directions covering the entire azimuth plane.
The missile blasted off from a canister, achieved the terminal accuracy of fewer than 10 meters, went up vertically and then manoeuvred as coordinated and travelled the desired range. All systems functioned normally. There was not a single degree deviation during the entire flight path, according to DRDO officials.
It was the second test of the missile, which was first tested on July 21, 2011. It will be indicted in the army after few more tests.
Prahar is capable of filling the gap between the multi-barrel rocket system ‘Pinaka‘ and medium-range ballistic missile ‘Prithvi‘ that can engage multiple targets in different directions. The missile system is developed to provide the Indian Army with a cost-effective, quick reaction, all weather, all terrain, high accurate battlefield support tactical system.
- Prahar is equipped with sophisticated inertial navigation, guidance and electromechanical actuation systems with the latest advanced on-board computer.
- Prahaar has no parallel in the world in its range category with a strike range of 150 km.
- It has a greater manoeuvring capability, acceleration and can be deployed in different kinds of terrain making it more effective against strategic targets.
- Prahaar missile, fuelled by solid propellant, travels at a speed of Mach 2.
- It is about 7.32 meter long and its diameter is 420 mm.
- Its launch weight is about 1.28 tonne and can carry a payload of 200 kg.
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman congratulated DRDO, Army, industries and other team members for the successful mission and said indigenously developed Prahar will further strengthen our defence capabilities”.
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