On Tuesday, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) team flight-tested a vertical-launched short-range surface-to-air missile (VL-SRSAM) at an integrated test range off the coast of Odisha in eastern India.
According to reports, the missile was launched from the test range at Chandipur at 3:08 pm Indian Standard Time (IST) and successfully intercepted the target mimicking a drone. It achieved all significant parameters and after successful induction, the missile will be deployed onboard various frontline ships of the Indian Navy as a secondary system complementing long-range SAMs.
The defense ministry said the flight test was conducted to validate the integrated operation of all of its weapon system components, proving the effective synergy of the missile on any platform, including future upgrades and development of future warships.
After the successful flight test, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated and greeted all of the participants involved, including the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Navy.
“The launch was conducted from a vertical launcher against an electronic target at a very low altitude. The flight path of the vehicle along with health parameters was monitored using a number of tracking instruments deployed by the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur,” the MoD said in a statement.
“Today’s launch of the system was conducted to validate the integrated operation of all weapon system components including the vertical launcher unit with controller, canisters flight vehicle, weapon control system, etc,” the ministry added.
During the course of the project, the test launch was monitored by senior officials and on-site scientists and engineers from the DRDO and the Indian Navy. During the flight path, all sub-systems of the missile performed as per expectation and achieved intended parameters.
The DRDO Chairman and General Secretary G Satheesh Reddy applauded the teams involved in the successful test of the missiles and said that it has paved the way for the effective integration of weapon systems onboard Indian naval ships.
VL-SRSAM is an advanced two-staged, short-range surface-to-air missile with an operational range of 50 to 60 km radius. The system can be fired from vertical launchers and inherits mid-course inertial guidance through fiber optic gyroscope and fields a terminal active radar homing in the last phase.
The missile is quick-reactive and gives a secondary solution to the air defense envelope for India’s warships. The system is also completely indigenous and will make India reliable only on its growing domestic industry for the design and development of such systems.
