India conducted a test run of its QRSAM, a fast-reacting surface missile to air, on Friday
Chandipur / New Delhi:
India conducted a test trial of a rapid reaction surface-to-air missile (QRSAM) to successfully hunt down and destroy a PTA (pilotless target vehicle) off the Balasore coast of Odisha on Friday.
A 13-second video of the test, shared by the ANI news agency this morning, shows the QRSAM launch in a cloud of smoke from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur at around 3.50 PM. The missile took approximately eight seconds to reach its target.
The QRSAM uses a single-stage solid booster rocket and is built using indigenous subsystems. It can be deployed from mobile launchers, each of which has six boat-borne missiles for ease of transport, to provide moving support to ground forces.
#CLOCK: Successful firing test of the rapid reaction surface-to-air missile system developed by DRDO off the coast of Balasore, Odisha yesterday. The missile can hit targets in the air with an attack range of 25-30 km. During the test shot, it hit its target directly. pic.twitter.com/szA2J2cytG
– ANI (@ANI) November 14, 2020
The weapons system used in the QRSAM, built in collaboration between defense power supply units (public sector units) and the private sector, is capable of detecting and tracking moving targets and attacking them with short stops.
All elements of the system – battery multifunction radar, battery surveillance radar, battery command post vehicle and mobile launcher – were deployed in the test, according to a statement from the Defense Ministry. The entire system is designed to provide air cover to the Army’s attack columns.
Also among the systems used are active RF seekers and electromechanical actuation (EMA) systems. The radar is a four-wall active phase array radar (APAR).
When the missile was fired, tracking stations, radar, electro-optical guidance system (EOT), and telemetry stations monitored the flight parameters. The radar tracked the PTA from the farthest range and the missile was launched when it was in the kill zone.
The QRSAM scored a direct hit.
Several laboratories of the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) participated in the test, such as the Defense Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), the Imarat Research Center (RCI) and the Electronics and Radars Development Establishment ( LRDE).
After the successful conclusion of the trial, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and DRDO President Dr. G Satheesh Reddy congratulated the scientists and technicians involved.
With contributions from ANI, PTI
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