CHANDIPUR, October 17 — Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Navy successfully conducted a developmental flight test of the indigenously designed Vertical Launch Short Range Surface-to-Air Missile (VL-SRSAM) from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur off the coast of Odisha on Saturday.
The missile system engaged a high-speed, sea-skimming unmanned aerial target executing evasive maneuvers at ultra-low altitude with pinpoint terminal accuracy. Comprehensive trajectory telemetry, ship-borne multifunction radar captures, and electro-optical tracking sensors verified flawless vertical canister ignition, agile thrust-vectoring maneuvers, and lethal warhead detonation at designated range parameters.
The Ministry of Defence commended DRDO and naval weapon engineers, emphasizing that the missile's indigenous radio-frequency (RF) seeker and cold-launch reaction capabilities will deliver vital close-in point-defence shield against low-radar-cross-section anti-ship cruise missiles across front-line naval destroyers and frigates.
The institutional lineage of DRDO (established in 1958), milestones of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP launched in 1983 under Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam), public sector defence undertakings (BDL, BEL), and surface-to-air missile systems (Akash, MRSAM, VL-SRSAM) represent core conceptual topics across UPSC Civil Services, CDS, and CAPF defence sections.