Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile System

• 16 Nov 2020

Why in News

Recently, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully test-fired Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile system (QRSAM).

• The test was conducted at the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur off Odisha coast.
• The Test was in continuation of a series of missile tests conducted by DRDO over the past two months.

Key Points

• QRSAM is a canister-based system, which means that it is stored and operated from specially designed compartments.
  
  • In the canister, the inside environment is controlled, thus along with making its transport and storage easier, the shelf life of weapons also improves significantly.
• The system is capable of detecting and tracking targets on the move and engaging targets with short halts.
• Range and mobility:
  
  • It is a short range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system, primarily designed and developed by DRDO to provide a protective shield to moving armoured columns of the Army from enemy aerial attacks.
  • The entire weapon system has been configured on a mobile and manoeuvrable platform and is capable of providing air defence on the move.
  • It has been designed for induction into the Army and has a range of 25 to 30 km.
• Functioning:
  
  • The QRSAM weapon ensemble which functions on the move consists of a fully automated command and control system.
    
    • It also consists of two radars - Active Array Battery Surveillance Radar and Active Array Battery Multifunction Radar - with one launcher.
  • Both radars have 360-degree coverage with “search on move” and “track on move” capabilities.
  • The system is compact, uses a single stage solid propelled missile and has a mid-course inertial navigation system with two-way data link and terminal active seeker developed indigenously by DRDO.

Source: IE