India on Thursday successfully tested a new surface-to-air missile system it has developed in collaboration with Israel, which will significantly buttress its air defence system.
Here are 10 developments in the story:
- The system called Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile system (MR-SAM) was flight tested twice at the Integrated Missile Test Range at Chandipur in Balasore, Odisha.
- The missile, on receiving a signal from radars, intercepted a target drone at 8.15 am, officials said.
- This is the first time that the system was tested in India. In the next few days, a series of tests will take place before the system joins the Indian Air Force arsenal.
- The missile is similar to the Barak-8 missile used by the Navy's new destroyers.
- The supersonic missile system was jointly developed with the Israel Aerospace Industries. 400 scientists, including 100 from Israel, worked for seven years to make this weapon system.
- The missile is designed to defend any type of airborne threat including aircraft and helicopters. It can intercept supersonic aircraft and even missiles.
- The project director for MR-SAM told NDTV there is no comparable system in the world. Earlier, a naval version of the same missile was tested in Israel.
- The full system, which includes radars, mobile launchers, a combat management system and power supply, was tested in full "operational condition".
- The system also includes a multi-functional surveillance and threat alert radar for tracking, detection and guidance of the missile.
- Companies like Bharat Electronic Limited, L&T, Bharat Dynamics Limited and the Tata Group have developed sub systems that have been put to use in this flight test.
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