India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is advancing the development of an air-launched variant of the Pralay ballistic missile, targeting a significant leap in the country’s tactical strike capabilities. The integration of the nearly 9-meter-long, solid-fuelled, short-range Pralay, which boasts a range of 150–500km and a variable payload of 350–1,000kg, onto airborne platforms presents major engineering challenges—most notably weight reduction, size optimization, and ensuring safe separation at hypersonic speeds. Unlike cruise missiles, adapting this ballistic system for launch from fighter aircraft involves overcoming complex aerodynamic and guidance constraints. The ongoing project, which entered advanced stages in mid-2025, is intended to allow the Indian Air Force to strike strategic and tactical targets more flexibly and with minimized response times. Ground-launched Pralay missiles recently completed successful user evaluation trials, paving the way for its broader induction. Testing of the air-launched variant is scheduled for 2028–2029, marking India’s drive to join a select group of countries with such advanced capabilities and reinforcing its deterrence posture in the region.