Medium range surface-to-air missile (MRSAM)

Published: 4th Apr, 2022

Context

The DRDO conducted two successful flight tests of the Army version of Medium Range Surface to Air Missile (MRSAM).

About

About MRSAM:

The MRSAM is a surface-to-air missile jointly developed by DRDO and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) for use by the Indian Army.
The missile will replace the ageing Air Defence systems of the Army.
The MRSAM weapon system comprises multi-function radar, mobile launcher system and other vehicles.
It has Army, Navy and Air Force variants.
The mobile launcher can transport, place and launch eight canisterised missiles.
These can be fired either in single mode or in ripple firing mode in a vertical firing position.
The missile’s management system uses the radar to track and correctly identify the target, calculates the distance from it and gives all the information to the Commander for a decision to be made on interception.
The missile itself is 5 metres in length with a weight of around 275 kg.
It is equipped with fins and canards to stabilise its flight and provide it manoeuvrability.
The missile is powered by a solid propulsion system coupled with a thrust vector control system.
The missile can move at a maximum speed of Mach 2 (twice the speed of sound).
It can engage multiple targets upto a range of 70 km.

List of the surface to air missiles in India:

About DRDO

DRDO is the R&D wing of Ministry of Defence, Government of India.
DRDO was formed in 1958 from the amalgamation of the then already functioning Technical Development Establishment (TDEs) of the Indian Army and the Directorate of Technical Development & Production (DTDP) with the Defence Science Organisation (DSO).
DRDO was then a small organisation with 10 establishments or laboratories.
Over the years, it has grown multi-directionally in terms of the variety of subject disciplines, number of laboratories, achievements and stature.
DRDO’s pursuit of self-reliance and successful indigenous development and production of strategic systems and platforms have given quantum jump to India’s military might, generating effective deterrence and providing crucial leverage, such as:
- Agni and Prithvi series of missiles
- light combat aircraft, Tejas
- multi-barrel rocket launcher, Pinaka
- air defence system, Akash
- a wide range of radars and electronic warfare systems; etc.,

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