PRALAY AND AKASH MISSILES
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The missile flight trials were conducted as part of user validation exercises aimed at confirming the system’s performance across its defined maximum and minimum operational ranges.
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According to the Ministry of Defence, Pralay is a domestically developed missile that uses solid fuel propulsion and features advanced guidance and navigation technologies to ensure precision targeting. It is designed to carry a variety of conventional warheads to neutralize diverse types of targets.
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The first successful test of Pralay—named after the Sanskrit word for "widespread devastation"—was carried out in December 2021. The missile is being equipped with conventional warheads and is intended for integration into the Indian Army’s artillery units.
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The development of the missile system was spearheaded by the Research Centre Imarat (RCI) of the DRDO in Hyderabad, with support from three DRDO labs based in Pune: the Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL), and the Research & Development Establishment (Engineers).
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Ballistic missiles are characterized by their use of projectile motion, where the missile is powered during the early phase of its flight and later follows a gravity-determined trajectory in an arc-like path.
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In contrast, quasi-ballistic missiles follow a lower and more flexible trajectory. While they initially adopt a ballistic path, they are capable of mid-course corrections and maneuvers, making them more adaptable and harder to intercept.
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The Akash Prime missile, an improved version of the original Akash surface-to-air missile system tailored for high-altitude operations, was successfully tested in Ladakh on July 16, where it demonstrated its ability to destroy fast-moving unmanned aerial targets with high precision.
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The test was conducted as part of the first firing trial of the production model, and according to the Ministry of Defence, it will pave the way for the missile's timely induction into service, significantly boosting India’s air defence capabilities in mountainous regions.
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The initial Akash missile had an effective range between 27 to 30 kilometres and could reach flight altitudes of approximately 18 kilometres. The Akash Prime, which had its first successful flight test in September 2021, maintains a similar range but incorporates a critical upgrade—an indigenously developed active Radio Frequency (RF) seeker to improve its targeting accuracy against aerial threats.
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The upgraded system features additional modifications to enhance its performance in sub-zero temperatures commonly encountered at higher altitudes. These improvements were integrated based on feedback from the armed forces to ensure effective deployment in regions above 4,500 metres, offering protection to strategic and sensitive locations.
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The Akash missile system, classified as a short to medium-range surface-to-air missile, was initiated in the late 1980s under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) led by the DRDO. Initial trials for performance validation and target engagement took place in the late 1990s and early 2000s, followed by comprehensive user evaluations by the Indian Air Force and Army.
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Named after the Sanskrit word for "sky," the Akash missile represents a strategic deterrent in aerial defence, offering protection to critical infrastructure and vulnerable zones from enemy air threats.
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The system is capable of engaging multiple aerial targets simultaneously, operating either in group or autonomous mode. It is also equipped with Electronic Counter-Counter Measures (ECCM), which allows it to resist attempts by enemy electronic warfare systems to disrupt its targeting and detection mechanisms
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Ballistic missiles operate by launching warheads along a projectile path to strike designated targets. These missiles are propelled only during the initial phase of their flight; once the fuel burns out, they follow a gravity-driven arc to reach their destination. Based on their range, ballistic missiles are classified into different categories. They are capable of carrying either conventional or nuclear warheads. Indian examples include Agni I, Agni II, Prithvi I, Prithvi II, and Dhanush.
Classification of Ballistic Missiles by Range:
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Tactical Ballistic Missile (TBM): Less than 300 km
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Short-Range Ballistic Missile (SRBM): 300 to 1,000 km
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Medium-Range Ballistic Missile (MRBM): 1,000 to 3,500 km
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Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM): 3,500 to 5,500 km
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Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM): More than 5,500 km
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Cruise missiles, on the other hand, are unmanned aerial systems powered by jet engines, and can be launched from land-based, airborne, or naval platforms. Examples include BrahMos, Tomahawk, Kalibr, AGM-86 ALCM, and JASSM.
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The primary difference in flight path is that cruise missiles fly close to the ground, which allows them to evade radar detection, while ballistic missiles travel along a high, parabolic trajectory. Because of this, ballistic missiles are easier to track due to their predictable paths, whereas cruise missiles are more difficult to intercept as they can maneuver mid-flight and bypass air defence systems
- The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) is a sophisticated missile defense system developed by the United States with the primary purpose of intercepting and destroying short, medium, and intermediate-range ballistic missiles during their terminal phase—that is, the final stage of their flight as they descend toward the target.
- Unlike other air defense systems that engage enemy missiles during launch or midcourse, THAAD is specifically designed to track and neutralize missiles in the final moments before they strike.
- It does this by using a "hit-to-kill" approach—rather than carrying an explosive warhead, the THAAD interceptor uses kinetic energy to destroy an incoming missile by direct collision, making it a clean and highly effective method of neutralization.
- The THAAD system includes high-resolution radar (AN/TPY-2) for early detection, a fire control and communications system, and interceptor missiles. It is capable of engaging threats both inside and just outside the Earth's atmosphere, at altitudes up to 150 km, which helps extend the protective envelope for both military assets and civilian populations.
- Deployed in various strategic regions including South Korea, Guam, and the Middle East, THAAD plays a key role in US global missile defense architecture, especially in the context of rising missile threats from nations such as North Korea and Iran.
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For Prelims: Current events of national and international importance.
For Mains: General Studies III: Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology
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Previous Year Questions
1.Consider the following statements :(UPSC CSE 2023)
1. Ballistic missiles are jet-propelled at subsonic speeds throughout their flights, while cruise missiles are rocket-powered only in the initial phase of flight.
2. Agni-V is a medium-range supersonic cruise missile, while BrahMos is a solid-fuelled intercontinental ballistic missile.
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
Answer (D)
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