QRSAM : Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile | UPSC
HEADLINES:
QRSAM Missile System Achieves Major Milestone
WHY IN NEWS:
Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh and Secretary DD R&D & Chairman DRDO Dr G Satheesh Reddy congratulated DRDO Scientists for the achievement.
SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 3: Defence
LEARNING:
For PRELIMS go through specification , range , control systems and its significance in Indian Army.
For MAINS can you name a few Surface to Air Missiles ? Discuss the evolution of Surface to Air Missiles in India .
CONTEXT:
QUICK REACTION SURFACE TO AIR MISSILE (QRSAM)
LAUNCH
- The missile launch took place from ITR Chandipur on 13th Nov 2020 at 1550 hrs off the Odisha Coast.
OVERVIEW
- Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile System (QRSAM) is a Short Range Surface to Air Missile system.
- QRSAM is designed to protect moving armoured columns from aerial attacks.
- The entire weapon system is configured on highly mobile platforms and is capable of providing air defence on the move.
- QRSAM Weapon Systems is being inducted into the Indian Army (IA).
- The Missile is canisterised for transportation and launch using a mobile launcher capable of carrying 6 canisterised missiles.
DEVELOPERS
QSRAM is a missile developed by:
- Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
- Bharat Electronics Limited
- Bharat Dynamics Limited for the Indian Army.
MANUFACTURER
- Bharat Dynamics, Bharat Electronics, Defence Research and Development Organisation, Tata Power Strategic Engineering Division.
DESCRIPTION
- This missile is an all-weather, all-terrain surface-to-air missile equipped with electronic counter measures against jamming by aircraft radars.
- The missile can be mounted on a truck and is stored in a canister.
- The single-staged missile utilized by the system is propelled using solid propellants.
- The missile is equipped with a midcourse inertial navigation system with a two-way data link and a DRDO-developed terminal active seeker.
- The system has the capability to search and track targets while moving.
COMMAND AND CONTROL
- QRSAM is a compact weapon system and is mobile.
The missile system comprises two four-walled radars both of which encompass a 360-degree coverage, namely,
- Battery Multifunction Radar
- Battery Surveillance Radar
- Battery Command Post Vehicle
- Mobile Launcher were deployed in the flight test.
SIGNIFICANCE
- The system is capable of detecting and tracking targets on the move and engaging target with short halts.
- The system is designed to give air defence coverage against strike columns of Indian Army.
- The radar tracked the Banshee target from farthest range.
- Various DRDO labs DRDL, RCI, LRDE, R&DE(E), IRDE, ITR have participated in the test.
- The weapon system elements have been realized through Defence PSUs BEL, BDL and private industry L&T.
- The missile system is fully indigenous with active RF Seekers, Electro Mechanical Actuation (EMA) systems sourced from various industries.
- The Radar is four walled Active Phased Array Radar.
- All range Tracking stations, Radar, EOTs & Telemetry Stations monitored the flight parameters.
IASbhai WINDUP:
- The first test firing of the missile took place on 4 June 2017.
- The seventh-test took place on 23 December 2019 from Integrated Test Range (ITR), which included two firings of the missile.
- With this test, the development of the missile was declared complete.
- The system was deployed in Eastern Ladakh in June 2020.
SOURCES: PIB | QRSAM : Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile | UPSC
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