Overview
- DRDO conducted the Pralay user-evaluation flight test on Thursday and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the trial met all stipulated objectives as validated by range data.
- Range instruments and telemetry captured by test arrays were used to verify the missile’s trajectory, guidance performance and mission parameters during the off-Odisha test.
- Last month DRDO flew an experimental High-Altitude Platform System to about 21 km above mean sea level where it stayed near 20 km for over 30 minutes, sent continuous video and performance data, and was recovered for analysis.
- Both trials involved coordination with military and civil agencies including the Indian Air Force, CEMILAC, DGCA and AAI, and officials say the results advance indigenous options for strike, surveillance and communications.
- The tests fit the long-running government push for indigenisation of defence systems and could lead to tighter integration of mobile long-range missiles with persistent stratospheric platforms for monitoring and command links.