Prahaar (missile)
Encyclopedia
Prahaar is a solid-fuelled surface-to-surface
guided short-range tactical ballistic missile
by DRDO of India
. It would be equipped with omni-directional warheads and could be used for hitting both tactical and strategic targets.
and the Indian Air Force
, to take out strategic and tactical targets. The mobile launch platform will carry six missiles, which can have different kind of warheads meant for different targets and can be fired in salvo mode in all directions covering the entire azimuth plane.
This solid-fuelled missile can be launched within 2–3 minutes without any preparation, providing significantly better reaction time than liquid-fuelled Prithvi ballistic missiles and act as a gap filler in the 150 km range, between the Pinaka Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher
and Smerch MBRL in one end and the Prithvi ballistic missiles on the other. Prahaar may replace Smerch systems in service with the Indian Army.
Prahar was test-fired successfully on 21 July 2011 from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur. During the test Prahar travelled a distance of 150 km in about 250 seconds meeting all launch objectives and striking pre-designated target in the Bay of Bengal with a high degree of accuracy of less than 10 meters.
Surface-to-surface missile
A surface-to-surface missile is a guided projectile launched from a hand-held, vehicle mounted, trailer mounted or fixed installation or from a ship. They are often powered by a rocket motor or sometimes fired by an explosive charge, since the launching platform is typically stationary or moving...
guided short-range tactical ballistic missile
Ballistic missile
A ballistic missile is a missile that follows a sub-orbital ballistic flightpath with the objective of delivering one or more warheads to a predetermined target. The missile is only guided during the relatively brief initial powered phase of flight and its course is subsequently governed by the...
by DRDO of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. It would be equipped with omni-directional warheads and could be used for hitting both tactical and strategic targets.
Development and history
Prahar is developed to provide a cost effective, quick reaction, all-weather, all-terrain, highly accurate battlefield support tactical system. The development of the missile was carried out by the DRDO scientists in a span of less than two years. The missile fills the short-range tactical battlefield missile role as required by the Indian ArmyIndian Army
The Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army...
and the Indian Air Force
Indian Air Force
The Indian Air Force is the air arm of the Indian armed forces. Its primary responsibility is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare during a conflict...
, to take out strategic and tactical targets. The mobile launch platform will carry six missiles, which can have different kind of warheads meant for different targets and can be fired in salvo mode in all directions covering the entire azimuth plane.
This solid-fuelled missile can be launched within 2–3 minutes without any preparation, providing significantly better reaction time than liquid-fuelled Prithvi ballistic missiles and act as a gap filler in the 150 km range, between the Pinaka Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher
Pinaka Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher
Pinaka is a multiple rocket launcher produced in India and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation for the Indian Army. The system has a maximum range of 39–40 km and can fire a salvo of 12 HE rockets in 44 seconds, neutralizing a target area of 3.9 km2...
and Smerch MBRL in one end and the Prithvi ballistic missiles on the other. Prahaar may replace Smerch systems in service with the Indian Army.
Prahar was test-fired successfully on 21 July 2011 from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur. During the test Prahar travelled a distance of 150 km in about 250 seconds meeting all launch objectives and striking pre-designated target in the Bay of Bengal with a high degree of accuracy of less than 10 meters.
See also
- IGMDPIGMDPThe Integrated Guided Missile Development Program was an Indian Ministry of Defence program between the early 1980s and 2007 for the development of a comprehensive range of missiles, including the intermediate range Agni missile , and short range missiles such as the Prithvi ballistic missile ,...
- Project DevilProject DevilProject Devil was one of two early liquid-fueled missile projects developed by India, along with Project Valiant, in the 1970s. The goal of Project Devil was to produce a short-range surface-to-air missile...
- Prithvi missiles
- BM-30 Smerch
- Pinaka Multi Barrel Rocket LauncherPinaka Multi Barrel Rocket LauncherPinaka is a multiple rocket launcher produced in India and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation for the Indian Army. The system has a maximum range of 39–40 km and can fire a salvo of 12 HE rockets in 44 seconds, neutralizing a target area of 3.9 km2...
- Akash MissileAkash missileAkash is India's medium range surface-to-air missile defense system developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation and Bharat Electronics Limited as part of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program. The missile can target aircraft up to 30 km away, at altitudes up to...