INDIA. Mumbai: The Vertical Launch Short Range Surface to Air Missile (VL-SRSAM) was successfully flight-tested on Friday at the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur off the coast of Odisha by the Indian Navy and the Defence Research & Development Organization (DRDO).
The VL-SRSAM, a ship-borne weapon system, is meant for neutralizing various aerial threats at close ranges including sea-skimming targets. It is a quick reaction surface-to-air-missile developed by (DRDO). During the mid-course flight, the missile uses a fiber-optic gyroscope-based inertial guidance mechanism while the terminal phase uses active radar homing.
The missile receives a mid-course update via data connection when using the lock-on before launch (LOBL) and lock-on after launch (LOAL) capabilities. The missile is meant to take the place of the outdated Barak 1 surface-to-air missile system on board warships of the Indian Navy.
“It will also be used as a short-range air defence system for Indian Air Force,” a Defence Ministry statement said.
A high-speed aerial target resembling an aircraft was used for the system’s launch, and it was successfully engaged.
The flight path of the vehicle along with health parameters was monitored using several tracking instruments deployed by ITR, Chandipur. The test launch was monitored by senior officials from DRDO & the Indian Navy.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO, the Indian Navy, and the industry for the successful flight test and stated that the system had added an armour that will further enhance the defence capability of Indian Naval ships against aerial threats.
Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar appreciated the Indian Navy & DRDO for the successful flight test of the VL-SRSAM and said that the development of this indigenous missile system will further strengthen the defensive capabilities of the Indian Navy.
Secretary, Department of Defence R&D & Chairman DRDO Dr. G Satheesh Reddy complimented the teams involved in the successful flight test. He said the test has proved the integration of an indigenous weapon system onboard Indian Naval Ships.
He added that it will prove to be a force multiplier for the Indian Navy and is another milestone toward Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” (Self-reliant India).
DRDO has planned to offload the manufacture of the missile to a private sector company. They are making it one of the first mainline weapon platforms to be produced by private industry under the aegis of “Aatmanirbhar Bharat”.
On the APJ Abdul Kalam Island in Odisha earlier this month, India successfully rested a nuclear-capable Agni-4 intermediate-range ballistic missile. The test, according to India’s defence minister, confirmed the country’s policy of possessing a “credible minimum deterrence” capability.
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