‘Direct strike against high-speed aerial targets,’ says India as it successfully tests the MRSAM air defence system in Odisha
On Wednesday, India successfully tested two Medium Range Surface to Air Missile (MRSAM) air defence systems at the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, off the coast of Odisha.
“MRSAM Army weapon system has once again proven its efficiency as two missiles during flight tests accomplished direct hit against high-speed aerial targets at roughly 10:15 hrs and 11:00 hrs today,” the Ministry of Defence said in a news release.
“With the completion of flight experiments at various ranges and scenarios, the system has finished its development trials,” according to the statement.
Senior officials from the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and the Indian Army were present during the flight testing.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh praised the officials who participated in the exams. “The successful launches have once again proven the system’s reliability,” he stated.
The launches were carried out to test the weapon system’s accuracy and reliability against targets covering the envelope’s sea-skimming and high altitude functions.
“During these testing, the performance of all weapon system components, including missile, weapon system radar, and command post, was validated,” the Defence Ministry said.
As part of the live firing testing off the coast of Odisha, the missile system was successfully flight tested twice against high-speed aerial targets at varying ranges on March 27.
What exactly is a Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile? (MRSAM)
The MRSAM is a land-based, cutting-edge missile system developed in collaboration by India’s DRDO and Israel Aerospace Industries.
It provides air defence against fighter aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), guided and unguided weapons, and cruise missiles.
The MRSAM, according to the Ministry of Defence, is capable of engaging multiple targets at a range of up to 70 kilometres.
It has a mobile launcher mechanism as well as a multi-function radar. In December 2020, the system was put through its paces for the first time.
According to a Ministry of Defence announcement, the DRDO handed over the MRSAM to the Indian Air Force on September 9, 2021.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh called the MRSAM a “game-changer in the air-defence system.”
“With the transfer of the MRSAM system to the IAF, we have made a huge step towards realising ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat,’ as envisioned by our Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi,” he said.
