The first flight-test of the newly-developed quick reaction, short range tactical missile ‘Prahaar,' which was initially planned to be conducted on Sunday, was postponed and is likely to take place on July 21.
According to Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) sources, the launch was tentatively rescheduled to July 21 as some additional tests were done on the vehicle which delayed its movement to Balasore, Orissa.
Launch at Chandipur
The missile would be launched from Launch Complex-III of the Integrated Test range at Chandipur, Balasore district.
The 150-km range missile will the bridge gap between Pinaka, a 40-km multi-barrel rocket system and the 350km range, nuclear-capable Prithvi-II, a surface-to-surface strategic missile.
Prahaar is a road mobile system and could be deployed in a few minutes time, without much preparation.
Each road mobile launcher can carry six missiles which could be used for taking out both tactical and strategic targets.
The new missile would fill the gap for such a battlefield weapon system in the country's missile arsenal and would replace the unguided Pinaka and Smerch rockets (90 km range).
Scientific Advisor to Defence Minister V.K. Saraswat had recently stated that the missile would be initially provided to the Army and later to other services.
He had also observed that it was cost-effective and a highly accurate missile.
He had mentioned that a few Prahaars would be required to produce devastation equivalent to that produced by several unguided rockets.
