India successfully launches missile
India has successfully test fired a new surface-to-air missile today from a defence base off the Bay of Bengal.
The medium range missile (MR-SAM), which is jointly developed with Israel, was successfully test launched from a mobile launcher in the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in eastern Indian state of Odisha at 8:15am, an official said.
"The test launch was a grand success and it met all the targets," he said.
The missile swung into action after getting signal from the radars to intercept a moving aerial target supported by an unmanned air vehicle (UAV) over the Bay of Bengal, officials said.
Apart from the missile, the system includes a Multi Functional Surveillance and Threat Alert Radar (MF STAR) for detection, tracking and guidance of the missile, they said.
"The missile along with MF-STAR will provide the users with the capability to neutralise any aerial threats," said a Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) scientist.
Indian Defence Research Development Laboratory (DRDL), a laboratory of DRDO based at Hyderabad, has jointly developed this missile in collaboration with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), he said.
A new production facility to deliver 100 missiles a year has been established for such type of long rang and medium range surface-to-air missiles.
Earlier, Indian Navy had successfully test launched the long range surface-to-air missile (LR-SAM).
Such type of medium range surface-to-air missiles (SR-SAM), having striking ranges from 50 to 70 km, can fill the gap of existing missiles that India has in its armory at present, they said.
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