New Delhi: India-made Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile system today achieved a major milestone by a direct hit on a Banshee pilot-less target aircraft at medium range and medium altitude, displaying a key capability to hit small airborne targets.

The QRSAM was tested from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur off Odisha coast this evening and the missile achieved the direct hit with terminal active homing by a RF seeker guidance after launch when the target was well within the kill zone, according to a Ministry of Defence statement.

The missile is propelled by a single-stage solid propellant rocket motor and uses all indigenous subsystems. The missile is canisterised for transportation and launch using a mobile launcher capable of carrying six canisterised missiles at at time.

All QRSAM weapon system elements like Battery Multi-Function Radar, Battery Surveillance Radar, Battery Command Post Vehicle and Mobile Launcher were deployed in the flight test.

The system is capable of detecting and tracking targets on the move and engaging target with short halts. The system is designed to give air defence coverage to the strike columns of the Indian Army.

“The radar tracked the Banshee target from farthest range and missile was launched when target was within kill zone and achieved the direct hit with terminal active homing by RF Seeker guidance,” the statement said.

Various Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) laboratories such as Defence Research and Development Laboratory, Research Centre Imarat, Electronics and Radar Development Establishment, Research and Development Establishment (Engineers), Instruments Research and Development Establishment, and Integrated Test Range have participated in the test.

The weapon system elements have been realised through Defence Public Sector Undertakings Bharat Electronics Limited and Bharat Dynamic Limited, and private industry Larsen and Toubro.

The missile system is fully indigenous with active RF Seekers, Electro Mechanical Actuation systems sourced from various industries. The radar is four-walled Active Phased Array Radar. All range tracking stations, radar, EOTs and Telemetry Stations monitored the flight parameters.

India’s Minister of Defence Rajnath Singh and DRDO Chairman and Secretary Defence Research and Development Dr G. Satheesh Reddy congratulated the DRDO scientists for the achievement.

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