IT Correspondent
Mumbai, June 25:
Vertical Launch Short Range Surface to Air Missile (VL-SRSAM) was successfully flight-tested by the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Navy from an Indian Naval Ship at Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur off the coast of Odisha on Friday.
The VL-SRSAM, a ship-borne weapon system, 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 fibre-optic gyroscope-based inertial guidance mechanism while the terminal phase uses active radar homing.
With the lock-on before launch (LOBL) and lock-on after launch (LOAL) capability, the missile receives a mid-course update via data link. The missile is intended to replace the older Barak 1 surface-to-air missile system onboard Indian Navy warships. It will also be used as a short-range air defence system for Indian Air Force, a Defence Ministry statement said.
The launch of the system was conducted against a high-speed aerial target mimicking aircraft, which 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”.
Earlier this month India also successfully rested its nuclear-capable Agni-4 intermediate-range ballistic missile from the APJ Abdul Kalam Island in Odisha. The defence ministry said the test reaffirmed India’s policy of having a ‘credible minimum deterrence’ capability.
