In an effort to validate the systems of the army version of the Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM) , the scientists on Wednesday successfully tested two missiles.  They achieved direct hits against high speed aerial targets at Integrated Test Range, Chandipur off the coast of Odisha.

The launches were carried out establishing the accuracy and reliability of the weapon system against targets covering the sea skimming and high altitude functionality within the envelope, officials said here.

Performance of all weapon system components including missile, weapon system radar and command post have been validated during these trials.

The flight tests were carried out in the presence of senior officials from Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Army. With the conclusion of flight trials for different ranges and scenarios, the system has completed its development trials.

On March 27, the missile system was successfully flight tested twice against high-speed aerial targets for different ranges as part of the live firing trials.

With a strike range of nearly 100 km, the 4.5-meter long supersonic quick reaction missile weighs around 2.7 ton and can carry a payload of 60 kg.

Each MRSAM unit comprises one command and control system, multi-functional surveillance tracking radar, threat alert radar, mobile launcher, combat management system, mobile power and radar power systems apart from the missile.The air version of the MRSAM system has already been handed over to IAF. The missile is designed to provide point and area air defence for ground assets against a wide range of threats.  Travelling at a speed of Mach 2, it can achieve high degrees of maneuverability at the terminal phase. This MRSAM version is a Surface-to-Air Missile developed jointly by the DRDO and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Israel for use by the Indian Army. The MRSAM Army weapon system comprises multi-function radar, mobile launcher system and other vehicles. The flight tests were carried out with the weapon system in deliverable configuration.