Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully flight tested the indigenously developed surface-to-surface tactical missile ‘Prahaar’, second time from Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, yesterday. Range stations and electro optical systems tracked the missile throughout its flight. ‘Prahaar’ is a contemporary weapon system capable of carrying multiple types of warheads and neutralizing a wide variety of targets.
According to Defence Ministry’s pres release Chief of the Army Staff General Bipin Rawat, Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Dr G. Satheesh Reddy witnessed the launch and complimented all the team members. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman congratulated DRDO, Army, Industries and other team members for the successful mission and said “indigenously developed Prahar will further strengthen our defence capabilities.”
Interestingly, developed as an alternative of Prithavi, this solid fuelled missile can be launched within two to three minutes and that too without any preparation. Prahaar requires significantly better reaction time than Prithvi, which is a liquid fuelled missile. Prahaar is considered as cost effective, all weather and all terrain battlefield support tactical weapon.
Developed in the record time of two years, Prahaar was test fired successfully first on 21 July in year 2011 from Chandipur. During the test, the missile covered the distance of 150 kilometer in about 4 minute 10 seconds. Prahaar met all launch objectives and struck a pre-designated target in the Bay of Bengal and that too with high degree of accuracy.
