‘Vertical launch- Short Range Surface to Air Missile’ tested by DRDO

Context

Recently, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) tested the “vertical launch-short range surface-to-air missile”, successfully.

Key-points

• India successfully flight-tested the air version of supersonic cruise missile (Vertical Launch Short Range Surface-to-Air Missile VL-SRSAM), BrahMos from a fighter aircraft off the Odisha coast.
• BrahMos was test-fired from a Sukhoi 30 MK-I aircraft.
• BrahMos is a Joint Venture between India (DRDO) and Russia (NPOM) for the development, production and marketing of the supersonic cruise missile. 
• It is a potent offensive missile weapon system already inducted into the tri-services (Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force) of the Indian Armed Forces.

About Vertical Launch – Short Range Surface to Air Missile (VL-SRSAM)

• VL-SRSAM is a quick reaction surface-to-air missile that has been developed by DRDO. 
• It comprises features like mid-course inertial guidance through fibre-optic gyroscope as well as active radar homing during terminal phase. 
• Missile has the capability of ‘lock on before launch (LOBL)’ and lock on after launch (LOAL). 
• As a result, it receives mid-course updates via datalink. 
• It seeks to replace “Barak 1 surface to air missile system” onboard Indian Navy warships.
• The 8.4-metre BrahMos missile, the fastest in the world, has a flight range of 450 km (enhanced from 290 km following India's entry in Missile Technology Control Regime) and carries a conventional warhead up to 300 kg. 
• This BrahMos missile is With high-precision and devastating power, it can cruise at the supersonic speed of Mach 2.8.