Surface-to-surface missile Prahar successfully tested

Prahaar, the latest and a quick reaction missile, has been successfully flight tested by defence scientists today.

The short range, surface-to surface-missile was fired from the Interim Test Range (ITR), Balasore, Orissa on Thursday morning at 0820 hours and it met all parameters, according to scientists of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

Prahaar with a range of 150 km can carry a payload of 200 kg is essentially a battlefield, tactical missile. It can be launched from a road mobile system, which can carry six missiles at a time and can be fired in salvo mode in all directions, according to Dr V.K. Saraswat, DRDO chief.

The missile is comparable to ATACMS missile of the US. It fills the vital gap between multi-barrel rockets and medium range ballistic missile. Prahaar is capable of carrying different types of warheads and operates as battlefield support system to the Indian Army, a DRDO release said.

The missile system is being developed to provide the Indian Army a cost effective, quick reaction, all weather, all terrain, high accurate battle field support system. Its first version has been developed by DRDO scientists in less than two years.

The missile with a length of 7.3 metres and diameter of 420 mm, weighs 1,280 kg. Its single stage solid propulsion system helps it reach a height of 35 km before attaining the target range of 150 km in about 250 seconds.

In today's test flight the missile achieved terminal accuracy of less than 10 metres, the DRDO release stated. The flight path of the missile was tracked and monitored by various radar systems located along the coast of Orissa.

The Union Defence Minister, Mr A.K. Antony, congratulated the scientists for the maiden launch of Prahaar.

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