Vertically-Launched Short-Range Surface-to-Air Missile:
India successfully flight tested the vertically launched short range surface to air missile (VL-SRSAM) from a defence test facility off the Odisha coast recently.
- Vertically-Launched Short-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (VLSRSAM) is an indigenously developed Short-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (SRSAM).
- It is developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
- It is a quick reaction missile capable of neutralising various aerial threats at close ranges, including sea-skimming targets.
- Initially designed for the Indian Navy for a strike range of 40 km, it can now attack targets up to 80 km.
- The missile is now being developed for use by the Indian Air Force to protect its air bases.
- Features:
- Having a diameter of 178 mm and a wingspan of 508 mm, the missile is 3.93 metres long.
- It weighs around 170 kg and uses solid propellant.
- With a maximum speed of Mach 4.5, the weapon system can reach an altitude of 16 km.
- During the mid-course flight, the missile uses a fibre-optic gyroscope-based inertial guidance mechanism, while the terminal phase uses active radar homing.
- It comes as an integrated missile and weapon control system (WCS) with a capability to hold multiple missiles in a twin quad-pack canister configuration.
