QRSAM

Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile (QRSAM) is a missile developed by the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Bharat Electronics Limited and Bharat Dynamics Limited for the Indian Army,[7] meant for protecting moving armoured columns from aerial attacks.[2]

QRSAM
QRSAM during its second flight test
TypeSurface-to-air missile
Place of originIndia
Service history
In service2020-present
Production history
ManufacturerBharat Dynamics, Bharat Electronics, Defence Research and Development Organisation, Tata Power Strategic Engineering Division
Produced2020-21[1]
Specifications
Detonation
mechanism
Optical poximity fuze
PropellantSolid fuel
Operational
range
Missile: 3 km (1.9 mi) - 30 km (19 mi)
Launcher: ~800 km
Flight altitude30 m (98 ft) - 10 km (6.2 mi)
Maximum speed 4.7 Mach
Guidance
system
Mid-course: Inertial navigation system with two way datalink
Terminal: Active radar homing
Launch
platform
6 tube launcher mounted on 8 x 8 Ashok Leyland or Tata Motors heavy mobility vehicles[1]
References[2][3][4][5][6]

QRSAM has a fully automated Command and Control System. The missile system possesses two four-walled radars both of which encompass a 360-degree coverage, namely, the Active Array Battery Surveillance Radar and the Active Array Battery Multifunction Radar, apart from the launcher while Laser proximity fuze ensures that missile can't be jammed.

History

As a part of a replacement program for its obsolete Osa-AK and Kvadrat missile systems, Indian Army received a go-ahead to initiate a global acquisition program for quick-reaction surface-to-air missiles from the Ministry of Defence in September 2007.[3] The acquisition program faced multiple issues, including poor response from vendors and re-tendering to avoid single source acquisition.[8] In the meanwhile, a DRDO project to develop quick-reaction surface-to-air missiles was sanctioned in July 2014 with a budget of ₹476.43 crore (equivalent to ₹613 crore or US$86 million in 2019).[9] The missile was developed in association with Bharat Electronics Limited and Bharat Dynamics Limited with both firms participating in development and manufacturing.[10][11] In 2017, Indian Army's global acquisition program was dropped in favour of the locally developed QRSAM.

Amid tensions with China, existing units of system were deployed on eastern Ladakh border.[12] The operational version meanwhile is awaiting production in mid-2021 after use trials.[1]

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. QRSAM uses solid-fuel propellant and has a range of 25–30 km.[7] 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 missile uses optical proximity fuze to increase accuracy and defend itself from jamming.[13] The system has the capability to search and track targets while moving with six missiles that can be fired for six different type of targets.[14]

QRSAM is a compact weapon system and is mobile. It has a fully automated Command and Control System. The missile system comprises two four-walled radars both of which encompass a 360-degree coverage, namely, the Active Array Battery Surveillance Radar and the Active Array Battery Multifunction Radar, apart from the launcher.[14] With a range of 30 km (19 mi) and ability to intercept a target flying high as 10 km (6.2 mi), QRSAM possesses over 90% Indian made subsyetms which will reach 99% incrementally.[1]

Testing
QRSAM fired from a mobile launcher on 23 December 2019 during its final developmental trial.[4]

The first test firing of the missile took place on 4 June 2017. This was followed by the second successful test on 3 July 2017.[15] The test was conducted from Chandipur, Odisha. Around 100 scientists are working as part of the missile development program led by Developed by Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL). DRDO's other labs including Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Research & Development Establishment (Engineers) (R&DE(E)) and Integrated Test Range (ITR) are also contributing to the missile development effort.[16] On 22 December, the missile was test fired for the third time. The test was reported to be a success.[17][18] The fourth test took place on 8 October 2018 and was reported to be successful.[19] Fifth test was successfully performed on 26 February 2019.[20] The sixth test was conducted on 4 August 2019 at 11:05 am from a mobile truck-based launcher at the launch complex-3 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur.[21] 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.[4]

On 13 November 2020, DRDO successfully conducted test fire of the system and achieved a major milestone by a direct hit on to a Banshee pilot-less target aircraft at medium range and medium altitude.[22]

On 17 November 2020, DRDO successfully test-fired the missile with a live warhead for the first time.the missile managed to hit and bring down an unmanned target vehicle at medium range and altitude.[23]

Deployment

The system was deployed in Eastern Ladakh in June 2020 during skirmishes with China along LAC.[12]

See also

References
  1. Peri, Dinakar (6 December 2020). "Indigenous quick reaction air defence system to be ready for production next year". The Hindu. New Delhi. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  2. "QRSAM". www.drdo.gov.in. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  3. Menon, Jay (3 May 2016). "India to develop Quick-Reaction SAM". Aerospace Daily & Defense Report. Aviation Week. p. 4. ISSN 1553-8591.
  4. "Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile completes development trials". The Hindu. Special Correspondent. 23 December 2019. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 23 December 2019.CS1 maint: others (link)
  5. "QRSAM again successfully test-fired". The Pioneer. 24 December 2019. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  6. "India Wraps Development Trials For QRSAM Missile That Can Shoot Plane 30 Km Away". Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  7. Bedi, Rahul (6 June 2017). "Indian DRDO-designed QRSAM successfully tested". IHS Jane's Defence Weekly. Jane's Information Group. Archived from the original on 6 June 2017.
  8. Raghuvanshi, Vivek (8 August 2017). "Indian Army Seeks New Source of Surface-to-Air Missile Defense System". Defense News.
  9. "DRDO Projects" (Press release). Press Information Bureau. 3 February 2017.
  10. Ghaswalla, Amrita Nair (31 March 2017). "BEL's research spend up 10% of revenue". The Hindu Business Line. The Hindu Group.
  11. Rao, Sushil (30 April 2016). "Quick Reaction Missile to be developed by BDL and DRDO". The Times of India. The Times Group.
  12. World, Republic. "India steps up security along LAC, deploys QRSAM in Ladakh amid Chinese air activities". Republic World. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  13. Peri, Dinakar (6 December 2020). "Indigenous quick reaction air defence system to be ready for production next year". The Hindu. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  14. "Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile successfully flight-tested off Odisha coast". Ministry of Defence. 23 December 2019. Retrieved 23 December 2019 – via Press Information Bureau.
  15. "Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile successfully test fired". The Indian Express. Press Trust of India. 3 July 2017. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  16. "DRDO's quick reaction missile hits target in 30 seconds". Mathrubhumi. 3 July 2017. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  17. Rout, Hemant Kumar (23 December 2017). "DRDO's homegrown quick reaction missile QRSAM successfully test fired off Odisha coast". The New Indian Express.
  18. Pubby, Manu (24 December 2017). "Setback for Indian missile programme: Two failures in a week, submarine version stuck". The Print.
  19. "DRDO testfires quick reaction missile off Odisha coast". The New Indian Express. 10 October 2018.
  20. "Twin Success for Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile". Press Information Bureau. 26 February 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  21. "India test-fires Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile". The Economic Times. 4 August 2019. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
  22. "DRDO's QRSAM achieves milestone, hits pilotless target aircraft in test in Odisha". Prithesh Kamath.
  23. "Second successful flight test of Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile air defence system conducted". Times now digital.
  • Media related to QRSAM at Wikimedia Commons
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