India's Defence Milestone: Successful Flight Test of Indigenous Pralay Missile

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully conducted a flight test of the indigenous Pralay missile, enhancing India's defence capabilities. Announced by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, the test met all objectives and signifies a major milestone in self-reliance in defence technology. Additionally, the DRDO recently achieved a successful flight trial of its High-Altitude Platform System, reaching 21 km altitude. This article explores the implications of these advancements for India's military technology and capabilities.

By Narendra Chaudhary Nov 5, 2026, 20:55 IST

Significant Achievement in Defence Technology

New Delhi: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has achieved a significant milestone by successfully conducting a flight test of the 'Pralay' missile, a surface-to-surface weapon developed in India, enhancing the nation's defence capabilities.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced this accomplishment on Thursday.

He shared on X, "The flight test of the indigenously developed Pralay Missile was successfully conducted off the coast of Odisha today at 1110 hrs."

He further noted, "This test was part of user evaluation trials and successfully met all objectives, as confirmed by data collected through various range instruments."

The Defence Minister emphasized that this successful trial represents a crucial step in bolstering India's self-reliant defence capabilities.

In a previous announcement last month, the DRDO revealed the successful flight trial of its High-Altitude Platform System (HAPS), which reached an altitude of 21 km, showcasing its long-endurance stratospheric flight capabilities.

The Ministry of Defence reported that the experimental flight achieved an altitude of 21 km above mean sea level and maintained approximately 20 km for over 30 minutes before descending safely. The data gathered during this mission was analyzed to evaluate its performance.

The Ministry stated, "The experimental flight reached an altitude of 21 km AMSL and sustained 20 km AMSL for more than 30 minutes before descending. The system was recovered successfully, and flight performance data was thoroughly analyzed."

This trial highlighted the platform's capability to operate in the stratosphere, which is advantageous for persistent surveillance, communication, and monitoring missions.

Throughout the flight, real-time video and performance data were continuously transmitted from the airborne platform to the ground control station.

Officials indicated that the system was equipped with various instrumentation and control packages, including an inertial measurement unit, GPS receiver, onboard cameras, and altitude control mechanisms, all of which functioned effectively during the mission.

The flight trial was executed in collaboration with several agencies, including the Indian Air Force, the Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC), the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the Airports Authority of India (AAI), and other civil authorities.