Vertical Launch Short Range Surface-to-Air Missile

Recently, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Navy successfully test fired a state-of-the-art surface-to-air missile (Vertical Launch Short Range Surface-to-Air Missile (VL-SRSAM) at Chandipur in Odisha.

• Manufacture: It has been manufactured by DRDO and Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL). The missile weighs about 154 kg and is 12.6 feet long.
• Technology: This missile is completely manufactured with indigenous technology.
• Name: It is installed in the vertical launch system in naval warships, hence it is also called Vertical Launch Short Range Surface-to-Air Missile.
• Features: It was tested from a land-based vertical launcher against a low-flying and high-speed aerial target.
  • Due to its speed, accuracy and lethality, it escapes radar.
  • According to DRDO, high-explosive pre-fragmented warhead is installed in it.
  • The range of this missile is 25 to 30 km. It can reach a maximum height of 12 km.
  • Its speed is double that of Barak-1. It flies at a speed of Mach 4.5 i.e. 5556.6 km per hour and hits its target by rotating in 360 degrees.
• After its successful testing, it will be installed by removing Barak-1 missiles from Indian warships.
  • The Barak-1 missile was manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.