Vertical Launch Short Range Surface to Air Missile (VL-SRSAM)

In News 

• The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) tested the “vertical launch-short range surface-to-air missile”, successfully.

About Vertical Launch Short Range Surface to Air Missile (VL-SRSAM)

• It is indigenously developed by DRDO and designed for deployment onboard Indian Naval warships.
• It can engage targets at around 15km
• It is meant for neutralising various aerial threats at close ranges, including sea-skimming targets, which are assets that fly as close as possible to the sea surface to avoid being detected by the radars onboard warships.
• It is expected to replace the older Israeli-made Barak-1 surface to air missile system. 
• VL-SRSAM is based on “Astra Mark 1 air-to-air missile”, comprising of four short-span long-chord cruciform wings.

Significance

• It will provide the Navy with a 360-degree aerial shield against incoming targets and further enhance the air defence capability of Indian naval ships against aerial threats.

Other recent Developments of DRDO 

• Shakti EW system :
  • Advanced Electronic Warfare (EW) System ‘Shakti’ has been designed and developed DRDO for Capital Warships of the Indian Navy for the interception, detection, classification, identification and jamming of conventional and modern Radars. 

• The Shakti EW system will provide an electronic layer of defence against modern radars and anti-ship missiles to ensure electronic dominance and survivability in the maritime battlefield.

• Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon :
  • Two flight tests of indigenously-developed smart anti-airfield weapons have been carried out jointly by Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Air Force (IAF). 

• Agni V Missile
  • It is the most advanced surface-to-surface indigenously built fire and forgets ballistic missile.
  • It was successfully launched from APJ Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha
  • The three-stage solid-fuelled engine missile is capable of striking targets at ranges up to 5,000 km

• ABHYAS: 
  • ABHYAS – the High-speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT) was successfully flight-tested.
  • The air vehicle is launched using twin under-slung boosters which provide the initial acceleration to the vehicle. 
  • It is powered by a gas turbine engine to sustain a long endurance flight at subsonic speed. 
  • The target aircraft is equipped with a MEMS-based Inertial Navigation System (INS) for navigation along with the Flight Control Computer (FCC) for guidance and control. 
  • The vehicle can be used as an aerial target for the evaluation of various missile systems. 

• Akash Prime
  • The Akash Prime is a medium-range mobile surface-to-air missile (SAM) system developed by the DRDO and produced by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL).
  • It can be fired from a tank or a wheeled truck.
  • In comparison to the existing Akash System, Akash Prime is equipped with an indigenous active Radio Frequency (RF) seeker for improved accuracy. 

• Air defence missile (MRSAM) System: T
  • The MRSAM (IAF) is an advanced network-centric combat Air Defence System developed jointly by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) in collaboration with the Indian industry comprising private and public sectors including MSMEs.
  • It provides point and area air defence for ground assets against a wide range of threats including fighter aircraft, UAVs, helicopters, guided and unguided munitions, subsonic & supersonic cruise missiles etc.

• Chaff Rocket’
  • The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed three variants of a ‘Chaff Rocket’.these are 
    • Short Range Chaff Rocket (SRCR)
    • Medium-Range Chaff Rocket (MRCR) and
    • Long Range Chaff Rocket (LRCR).

• The chaff system basically comprises multiple barrel launchers (Port and Starboard configuration), with each launcher possessing a built-in stabilization system against roll, pitch and yaw motions.

Source: IE