New Delhi: India today successfully tested an indigenous quick reaction missile system to validate its full capability of destroying targets in mid-air, completing its development trials and ready for induction by 2021.

Developed by the Indian military research and development agency, the Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile (QRSAM) was tested from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur off Odisha coast at 1145 hours.

“The missile was flight-tested with full configuration in deployment mode intercepting the target mid-air, meeting the mission objective,” a statement from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) said in a statement.

The entire flight test was monitored by gound telemetry systems, range radar systems, and electro optical tracking system. “The missile successfully engaged the aerial target establishing its capability.”

With this mission, the developmental trials of the weapon system are successfully completed and the weapon system is expected to be ready for induction by 2021.

The weapon system, which operates on the move, comprises of fully automated command and control system, active array battery surveillance radar, active array battery multi-function radar and launcher.

Both radars are four-walled having 360-degree coverage with search on move and track on move capability. The system is compact with minimum number of vehicles for a firing unit.

Single-stage solid propelled missile has mid-course inertial navigation system with two-way data link and terminal active seeker developed indigenously by DRDO.

DRDO Director General (Missiles and Strategic Systems) M. S. R. Prasad witnessed the trial.

Minister of Defence Rajnath Singh and DRDO Chairman and Department of Defence R&D Secretary Dr G. Satheesh Reddy congratulated the teams involved in the flight trials and development of QRSAM.