In an effort to sustain the tempo of self-reliance in developing a potent missile system, Indian scientists on Tuesday successfully flight tested the Vertical Launch Short Range Surface-to-Air Missile (VL-SRSAM).
Once inducted, the missile will be a force multiplier for the Indian Navy and further strengthen its capabilities for neutralising various aerial threats at close ranges including sea-skimming targets.
Giving details of the test, officials said here the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Navy successfully flight tested VL-SRSAM from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur off the coast of Odisha.
The flight test was carried out from an Indian Naval Ship against a high-speed unmanned aerial target for demonstration of vertical launch capability. The missiles, equipped with indigenous Radio Frequency (RF) seeker, intercepted the target with high accuracy. The VL-SRSAM system has been indigenously designed and developed by DRDO. During the test launch, flight path and vehicle performance parameters were monitored using flight data, captured by various Range instruments such as Radar, Electro-optical tracking system (EOTS) and Telemetry systems deployed by ITR, Chandipur.
The launch was monitored by senior scientists from various DRDO labs involved in the design and development of the system such as Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad and Research and Development Engineers, Pune.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh complimented the DRDO, Indian Navy and associated teams on the successful flight trial of VL-SRSAM.
Chief of DRDO G Satheesh Reddy congratulated the teams involved in the successful flight test and said the trial has proved the effectiveness of the weapon system which can take out sea-skimming targets.