CHANDIPUR, October 7 — The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) alongside operational evaluation units of the Indian Army on Wednesday executed a successful flight engagement trial of the indigenous Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile (QRSAM) system from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur off the Odisha coast.
According to technical parameters detailed by the Ministry of Defence, the canisterized weapon engaged an agile, low-altitude unmanned aerial target flying at supersonic dash speeds, registering a kinetic direct hit that severed the aerial asset at maximum operational range. The evaluation validated the entire mobile combat battery in operational 'search-on-move' and 'fire-on-short-halt' modes under realistic electronic warfare countermeasure environments.
The QRSAM weapon system is engineered to provide forward mobile air defense umbrellas to advancing strike corps and mechanized infantry formations against low-flying fighter aircraft, armed helicopters, and stand-off cruise munitions up to a 30-kilometre engagement perimeter. The all-weather battery integrates an active electronically scanned array (AESA) Battery Surveillance Radar, a multi-function tracking radar, and an automated mobile command-and-control vehicle manufactured collaboratively with Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL).
Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) architectures, multi-layered air defense doctrines (incorporating Akash, MRSAM, and VSHORADS), and indigenous guidance seeker electronics represent core knowledge areas in NDA, CDS, CAPF, and UPSC Civil Services (GS-III: Security and Technology). Aspirants should note that the QRSAM uses a single-stage solid-propellant motor with mid-course inertial navigation guidance coupled with a two-way datalink and terminal active RF seeker guidance developed entirely by DRDO laboratories.