India test-fires surface-to-air MRSAM missile
BALASORE: India on Wednesday successfully test-fired a medium range surface-to-air missile (MRSAM) from Odisha coast, defence sources said.
The missile was fired from a ground mobile launcher at launch pad number-1 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) near here at 3.55 pm, and it hit the target with accuracy, the sources said.
An unmanned air vehicle (UAV), ‘Banshee’, was first flown into the air, which was hit by the MRSAM. The DRDO has jointly developed the missile in collaboration with Israel Aerospace Industries. The MRSAM has been manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Ltd.
After its induction into the Indian army, the missile will significantly enhance the combat effectiveness of the defence forces, they said. The entire mission trajectory from the launch to plunging into the sea was monitored by various radars and electro-optico instruments, the sources said.
Prior to the test, Balasore district administration in consultation with DRDO temporarily evacuated 8,100 people residing within 2.5 km radius of the launch pad to the nearest shelter centres on Wednesday, a revenue department official said.
Last Wednesday, India had successfully test-fired two Prithvi-2 ballistic missiles off the eastern coast of Odisha in Balasore.
The trials of the DRDO-developed nuclear-capable surface to surface missiles were successful.
On December 1, the anti-ship version of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile developed by DRDO with a strike range of 300 kilometres successfully hit its target ship in a test fire.