Why short-range ballistic missiles are the new weapon of choice, and how Pralay stands out

Short-range ballistic missiles have emerged as one of the defining weapons of modern conflict, and nowhere has this been more evident than in the wars raging in Europe and West Asia over the past few years. Russia has employed its Iskander-M missiles extensively against Ukraine, using their speed and manoeuvrability to strike command posts, air bases and logistics hubs while challenging Kyiv's Western-supplied air defences. Iran, too, has leaned heavily on its short- and medium-range ballistic missile arsenal, firing waves of missiles at Israel during recent exchanges and testing the limits of even the vaunted Iron Dome and Arrow interceptor systems.These conflicts have driven home a hard truth: intercepting short-range ballistic missiles remains one of the toughest challenges in modern air defence.