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 launchpad to the nearest shelter centres on Wednesday morning, a revenue department official said.
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with continuous new missile tests are we by any chance concentrating on build up of missile stocks to make up for the reduced number of squadrons ? It might just be a right solution with missiles being indigenous taking less time to manufacture and possibly at much lower cost compared to aircrafts, besides needs no maintenance and trained pilots. If the targets are identified with proper co-ordinates the strike can be certain with lower possibility of interception.