Oh so they have switched it. Excellent. Common design will help scale up production easily.
So if they have no difference now what's the point of 2 different name ?
Media reported in 2020 about a test of the new Prahaar tactical ballistic missile in 2021. This poster from DefExpo 2020 wasn't proofread. Prahaar spelling is wrong. Impact angle should've been 75 deg -100 deg, not 750 -1000.
The older Prahaar (shown below) was last tested in 2018. It has a range of 150 km The newer version will have a 200 km range. The older version never entered service as the Army changed their requirements, they wanted a 200 km ranged missile. DRDO finalised the design by the end of 2020. At that time the new 200km missile was called "Pranash".
Thus we have seen 3 tactical ballistic missiles of this family. The original Prahaar, the export version Pragati & the newer Pranash. Then in DefExpo 2020 DRDO showed the newer missile with the same old name. I guess that makes sense, they can re-use that name as the original Prahaar never entered service.
The entire Prahaar family was derived from the AAD endo-atmospheric anti-ballistic interceptor (shown below) of the Phase-1 BMD. Ironic that they are making a ballistic missile from an anti-ballistic missile.
For comparison's sake let's call the newer missile Prahaar NG. A comparison of specs of the AAD, Prahaar & Prahaar NG :
Prahaar NG's terminal velocity seems rather odd. A 200 km ranged tactical ballistic missile should go hypersonic in its terminal stage. Did they end up posting boost phase velocity in place of terminal phase ?
Of course for targets beyond the 200 km range you need the upcoming Pralay tactical ballistic missile. Pralay has a range of 350-500 km with a 500-1000 kg conventional warhead striking with <10m CEP accuracy. The Pralay is based on the Shaurya missile.
Beyond the 500 km range of the Pralay you have the Shaurya & the Agni-1 missiles. Assuming Shaurya & Agni-1 are not exclusively tied to nuclear use, they probably are though. At the lower range end you have the new 40 km ranged ERR 122 rocket artillery & the 120 km ranged Pinaka Mk-3. Also the air-launched ballistic missile Rudram-3 is getting closer to captive trials. There is also the Rudram-2, whatever that is.
The entire range spectrum is covered. Production rate of the Pinaka was ~5000 rockets/year. It is being ramped with Solar Industries setting up an automated production line for the Pinaka. The Prahaar & Pralay will be produced at a much lower rate though.
Disappointed that we haven't seen a test of these missiles yet. The recent comment about setting up a rocket force got me to write this. Maybe we will see tests in a month or two.
There is a long list of missiles being readied for testing. Like the NASM-SR, below you have the RCI developed IIR seeker for the NASM-SR. Might be used by other versions of the NASM too. The NASM family is a cheap and efficient way of increasing the Navy's firepower.
The NASM-SR is a 375 kg high subsonic (Mach 0.8) helicopter launched sea skimming AShM with a 55km operational range. It is meant to arm the Sea King helicopters. The NASM-SR can probably be equipped on OPVs with inclined launchers.
Here is the RCI developed IIR seeker for the upcoming IR guided version of Astra. Might be used on VL-SRSAM too. Lab tests of the IIR seeker should be over by now.
The older Prahaar (shown below) was last tested in 2018. It has a range of 150 km The newer version will have a 200 km range. The older version never entered service as the Army changed their requirements, they wanted a 200 km ranged missile. DRDO finalised the design by the end of 2020. At that time the new 200km missile was called "Pranash".
Thus we have seen 3 tactical ballistic missiles of this family. The original Prahaar, the export version Pragati & the newer Pranash. Then in DefExpo 2020 DRDO showed the newer missile with the same old name. I guess that makes sense, they can re-use that name as the original Prahaar never entered service.
The entire Prahaar family was derived from the AAD endo-atmospheric anti-ballistic interceptor (shown below) of the Phase-1 BMD. Ironic that they are making a ballistic missile from an anti-ballistic missile.
For comparison's sake let's call the newer missile Prahaar NG. A comparison of specs of the AAD, Prahaar & Prahaar NG :
| Parameter | AAD interceptor | Prahaar | Prahaar NG |
| Length | 7.5 m | 7.32 m | 6.7 m |
| Diameter | 0.5 m | 0.42 m | 0.38 m |
| Weight | 1.2 tons | 1.28 tons | 1.3 tons |
| Range | 200 km traverse, 30 km flight ceiling | 150 km traverse, 35 km flight ceiling | 40-200 km traverse, 40 km flight ceiling |
| Warhead | Kinetic Hit-to Kill interceptor | 200-500 kg conventional (PF, PB, HEEB) | 200 kg conventional (PF, PB. HEEB & potentially FAE) |
| Launcher | BEML/TATRA 12 x 12 High Mobility Vehicle | TATA 8 x 8 High Mobility Vehicle, Rail mounted | 6 x 6 High Mobility Vehicle, Rail mounted |
| Missiles per launcher | 6 missiles per truck | 6 missiles per truck, 1 missile in a rail compartment | 6 missiles per truck, 1 missile in a rail compartment |
| Terminal Velocity | Mach 5 | Mach 3 | Mach 1.4 |
| Accuracy | ~ 10 cm CEP | ~ 10 m CEP | <20 m CEP |
| Propellant | Aluminum, Ammonium Perchlorate & HTPB based Solid propellant | Aluminum, Ammonium Perchlorate & HTPB based Solid propellant | Aluminum, Ammonium Perchlorate & HTPB based Solid propellant |
| Stages | Single Stage | Single Stage | Single Stage |
Prahaar NG's terminal velocity seems rather odd. A 200 km ranged tactical ballistic missile should go hypersonic in its terminal stage. Did they end up posting boost phase velocity in place of terminal phase ?
Of course for targets beyond the 200 km range you need the upcoming Pralay tactical ballistic missile. Pralay has a range of 350-500 km with a 500-1000 kg conventional warhead striking with <10m CEP accuracy. The Pralay is based on the Shaurya missile.
Beyond the 500 km range of the Pralay you have the Shaurya & the Agni-1 missiles. Assuming Shaurya & Agni-1 are not exclusively tied to nuclear use, they probably are though. At the lower range end you have the new 40 km ranged ERR 122 rocket artillery & the 120 km ranged Pinaka Mk-3. Also the air-launched ballistic missile Rudram-3 is getting closer to captive trials. There is also the Rudram-2, whatever that is.
The entire range spectrum is covered. Production rate of the Pinaka was ~5000 rockets/year. It is being ramped with Solar Industries setting up an automated production line for the Pinaka. The Prahaar & Pralay will be produced at a much lower rate though.
Disappointed that we haven't seen a test of these missiles yet. The recent comment about setting up a rocket force got me to write this. Maybe we will see tests in a month or two.
There is a long list of missiles being readied for testing. Like the NASM-SR, below you have the RCI developed IIR seeker for the NASM-SR. Might be used by other versions of the NASM too. The NASM family is a cheap and efficient way of increasing the Navy's firepower.
The NASM-SR is a 375 kg high subsonic (Mach 0.8) helicopter launched sea skimming AShM with a 55km operational range. It is meant to arm the Sea King helicopters. The NASM-SR can probably be equipped on OPVs with inclined launchers.
Here is the RCI developed IIR seeker for the upcoming IR guided version of Astra. Might be used on VL-SRSAM too. Lab tests of the IIR seeker should be over by now.
How it started
How it unfolded
How it ended
How it unfolded
How it ended
An 155mm artillery round with a laser guided semi-active seeker. Max range have to lowered as firing a optical seeker equipped artillery round with a full BMCS charge will probably damage the seeker. Could be very useful in the northern sectors. Laser designation can come from infantry, fighters, drones etc.
But drdo is developing GPS guided one so from where this laser guided version came.
You need both really. GPS guided will offer better range & accuracy as GPS hardware is easier to harden & make shock proof. So you can fire the GPS guided rounds with a larger charge. Also IRNSS offers better accuracy than the American GPS. But often you will have to operate in GPS denied environments.
Think of the GPS guided round as our version of the Excalibur & the SAL guided one as our version of the Krasnopol.
Rain isn't a huge problem. Fog, clouds, smoke etc. can be a problem. There will be increased atmospheric attenuation in such weather. Hand held designators probably wont be powerful enough to push through. But infantry can push forward a few kms towards the target to make it work.
Airborne designators will work fine, they are way more powerful. Although maximum range will reduce. The IAF's LITENING III pod can designate targets from 50,000 feet/15.24 km altitude. In foul weather conditions they would have to fly lower. How low ? That is case dependent.
RCI & VEM Technologies are the only 2 Indian organizations that can make semi-active seekers. So its either of those 2, or maybe both working in tandem.
As for the GPS round that's totally RCI & DRDL's project.
Tender issued to manufacture 4 prototypes of of the RCI designed MANPADS launcher - MPDMS project. The launcher is identified as V-666. Not much other info.
MPDMS
By the dimensions this missile is an analogous to the MBDA Mistral & the RBS 70, not the Igla. It is slightly bigger & heavier than both the Mistral & the RBS 70. It is going to be launched from a launch stand with the operator seated & not from the operator's shoulder. I expect the missile to have around 10-12 km range.
It seems DRDO also wants an air launched version of the missile, which will probably be the same system without the launch stand. Also they want to use it in ships. Makes sense, some our ships are armed with the Igla.
DRDO has another missile in the making which would be shoulder fired. That will probably be a smaller/thinner/lighter version of this missile with reduced range.
Delivery period from the tender:
270 days is ~9 months. If the vendor selection takes 2-3 months then RCI will receive the launcher in about a year from now. The missile should be ready by then. So we can expect the 1st firing trails in around October-November of 2022. Unless DRDO wants to do pop-out trials which can happen this year or early 2022.
The tender says that drawings of the launcher have been attached. I can't seem to find it. Does anybody have it ?
The drawings are not included on the public section of the website for some Limited tenders. The potential bidders are expected to email RCI to get them under NDA.
This is all a formality anyway. They probably already know which vendors will respond since it is a "Limited Tender" and shared all tender documents privately in advance. Limited tenders will only be issued to pre qualified vendors and are not available for open bidding. Likely that BEL, VEM, Astra Microwave and TASL got the Tender invitation. The vendors are probably already involved since many months in the design process and have their estimates ready.