DRDO successfully test-fires quick reaction air defence missile

Two missiles, developed by DRDO, were tested against two live targets, meeting complete mission objectives of engaging the targets. QRSAM, with many state of the art technologies, engaged the targets at different ranges and altitudes, says a DRDO release.

The test flights successfully demonstrated the robust control, aerodynamics, propulsion, structural performance, and high manoeuvring capabilities thus proving the design configuration. "Radars, electro-optical systems, telemetry, and other stations have tracked the missiles and monitored through the entire flights. All the mission objectives have been met," an official statement had said then.

The systems have been tested in final configuration with RADAR mounted on a vehicle and missiles on the launcher.

The systems are equipped with indigenously-developed phased array radar, Inertial navigation system, data link and RF seeker.

The entire mission was captured by various electro optical tracking systems, radar systems and telemetry systems.

The system is being developed for Indian Army with search and track on move capability with very short reaction time.

The all-weather, all-terrain missile with electronic counter-measures against jamming by enemy aircraft can be mounted on a truck and stored in a canister.

India is working to bolster its air defence system with several such systems being developed indigenously while others are under procurement from foreign countries. 

On 27 May, DRDO successfully tested a new version of Akash surface-to-air missile. Several variants of the Akash missile system is under development. 

Unlike Akash, QRSAM is said to have a better reaction time.

The advanced S-400 air defence system, which is under procurement from Russia, is expected to be delivered in the second half of 2020. 

Defence minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO and supporting industries on achieving the significant milestone.