DRDO to conduct trial of short-range Prahaar missile

Balasore (Orissa), Jul 20: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is all set to conduct trial of new indigenously developed quick reaction, short-range Prahaar missile on Thursday, Jul 21 from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur-on-sea.

"Ground preparation for the test-flight of a short range ballistic missile is complete and it would be taken up tomorrow any time between 9 am to 5 pm depending on weather condition," a DRDO official said here.

"This is a single stage missile fuelled by solid propellants, and being tested for the first time. It is surface-to-surface missile with a range of 150 km and can carry conventional warheads," a DRDO scientist said.

"The missile would be tested from the launch pad 3 in the ITR and as a safety measure, arrangement have been made to temporarily evacuate people residing within two km radius of the launch pad on the scheduled day of the launch," the official said.

Scientific Adviser to India's Defence Minister and Director General of DRDO V K Saraswat had recently said that the new 150 km range Prahaar missile "is going to be an excellent weapon" and would fill the gap between existing unguided rocket systems like Pinaka, Smerch and 350 km-range Prithvi-2 ballistic missile.

PTI