India on Sunday successfully test-fired an Army version of the medium range surface-to-air missile (MRSAM) from Chandipur Integrated Test Range in Odisha. The tests were carried out as part of the live firing trials against high-speed aerial targets, the Defence Ministry said in a statement.
“The missiles intercepted the aerial targets and destroyed them completely, registering direct hits at both the ranges. The first launch was to intercept a medium altitude long range target and the second launch was for proving the capability of a low altitude short range target,” it said.
The missile was developed jointly by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) for the use of 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. The performance of the weapon system was validated through the flight data captured by range instruments like radars, electro-optical tracking systems and telemetry deployed by ITR, Chandipur,” the ministry said.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO, Indian Army and the Industry, saying the successful tests establish the capability of the weapon system in intercepting targets at critical ranges.
