© Reuters
Indian missile (illustration).

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, NEW DELHI – India successfully carried out the first test of an independently developed short-range ballistic missile off the coast of Odisha on Wednesday (December 22nd). The Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) said the ballistic missile, named Pralay, was made by Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Island or Wheeler Island in the eastern state of Odisha.

“The mission achieved all of its goals. The new missile follows the desired quasi-ballistic trajectory and hits the specified target with high accuracy, with the control, guidance and mission algorithms being validated. All subsystems functioned satisfactorily, ”said the DRDO statement. Anadolu agency, Thursday (December 23rd).

The rocket is powered by a solid rocket motor and several new technologies. The missile has a range of 150 to 500 kilometers and can be fired from a mobile launcher. The missile guidance system includes an advanced navigation system and integrated avionics.

Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh paid tribute to DRDO and his team for the rapid development and successful launch of the new surface-to-surface missile. The Pralay test comes the day after India begins deploying the Russian-made S-400 anti-aircraft missile system in Punjab.

“The Indian Air Force is stationing S-400 on the western border to counter possible threats from Pakistan and China. The S-400 batteries will be able to deal with air threats from Pakistan and China, ”local media reports said.

On Tuesday (December 21), Pakistan also started a test of its domestically manufactured Babur 1B cruise missile. The missile has an initial range of 700 kilometers. However, the Pakistani Army media did not reveal the range of the upgraded version of the missile.

“The regulation is able to hit both land and sea targets with high accuracy,” said a media statement by the Pakistani military.