New 'Made-In-India' Missile Successfully Tested, To Strengthen Navy

India on Tuesday successfully flight tested the indigenously developed new Vertical Launch Short Range Surface-to-Air Missile (VLSRSAM) from the coast off Balasore, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) official said.

The quick reaction surface-to-air-missile missile developed by DRDO was test launched from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur at about 3.08 pm from a vertical launcher against an electronic target at a very low altitude.

Vertical Launch Short Range Surface to Air Missile for @IndianNavy was flight tested from ITR Chandipur. The missile was tested against an electronic target at a low altitude. The weapon is planned for integration onboard naval ships. pic.twitter.com/vYGTMjXQNw

— DRDO (@DRDO_India) December 7, 2021

The flight path of the missile along with its health parameters were monitored using a number of tracking instruments deployed by ITR, Chandipur.

All the sub-systems performed as per expectation and the test launch was monitored by senior DRDO and Indian Navy officials, the DRDO said.

The missile has an operational range of 50 to 60 km and features mid course inertial guidance through fiber optic gyroscope and active radar homing in terminal phase, it said.

The launch was conducted to validate integrated operation of all weapon system components including the vertical launcher unit with controller, canisterised flight vehicle, weapon control system and others required for future launches of the missile from Indian Naval ships.

The test launch was monitored by senior officials from the DRDO and Indian Navy, it said. The first trial was conducted on February 22, 2021 and Tuesday's fight test was a confirmatory trial to prove the consistent performance of the configuration and integrated operation, it said.

"RM Shri @rajnathsigh has congratulated @DRDO_India, @indianavy and industry for the successful flight test of Vertical Launch Short Range Surface to Air Missile. He said that this system would further enhance defence capability of Indian naval Ships against aerial threats," RMO (defence ministry) India said in its official twitter post.

RM Shri @rajnathsingh has congratulated @DRDO_India , @indiannavy and the industry for the successful flight test of Vertical Launch Short Range Surface to Air Missile. He said that this system would further enhance defence capability of Indian Naval Ships against aerial threats. pic.twitter.com/chnlpP3ct7

— रक्षा मंत्री कार्यालय/ RMO India (@DefenceMinIndia) December 7, 2021

Secretary to the department of defence research and development and DRDO chairman G Satheesh Reddy complimented the teams involved in the successful flight test and said that this has paved the way for integration of the weapon system onboard Indian Naval Ships.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik tweeted "Congratulate @DRDO_India and @indiannavy on successful flight testing of Vertical Launch Shrort Range Surface to Air Missile (VL-SRSAM) from Chandipur, off the coast of #Odisha."

Congratulate @DRDO_India and @indiannavy on the successful flight testing of Vertical Launch Short Range Surface to Air Missile (VL-SRSAM) from ITR Chandipur, off the coast of #Odisha. #DRDO

— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) December 7, 2021

On Tuesday morning ahead of the test firing of the tactical missile, the Balasore district administration as a safety measure temporarily shifted more than 4,500 people residing within 2.5 km radius of the launch pad No 3 of the ITR from where the weapon with a dummy pay load was positioned and launched.

A district revenue official said, "On the request of ITR authority these people residing in six hamlets in close proximity to the ITR launch site had to be temporarily shifted to nearby shelter centers with compensation. They will return to their homes after DRDO gives the green signal for it."

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)