New Delhi: In a major success for the indigenous missile programme that poses a formidable challenge to Pakistan, India today successfully test-fired the over 150 km-range quick-reaction Prahaar ballistic missile off the coast of Odisha. 

“The missile was tested off the coast of Odisha and was tested successfully meeting all the perimeters in the presence of senior Army officers,” government sources told MyNation. 

Seeking to enhance its precision strike capabilities, India is planning to replace its 150 km-range Prithvi ballistic missiles with the newly developed quick reaction Prahaar missiles.

The tactical versions of the Prithvi missiles will be withdrawn from service and will be upgraded to be used for longer ranges.

The Prahaar missile will fill in the gap in strike capabilities in the range of 100 to 150 km after the withdrawal of the smaller range Prithvi missiles.

The 150 km-range, Prahaar is a single-stage missile fuelled by solid propellants. It was first test-fired by DRDO in mid-2011 from its range in Odisha.

The uniqueness of the missile system is that it can be fired in the salvo mode also from one launch vehicle from which four missiles can be fired in one go.

This short-range missile will be an ‘excellent weapon’ which will fill the gap between the 90 km-range of the Smerch multi-barrel rocket launchers and guided missiles like Prithvi, which can strike at 250 km to 350 km range.

The Prithvi missiles were developed by India under its Integrated Missile Development Programme in the 1980s. The ballistic missile was developed with multiple strike ranges from 150 km to 350 km.