RudraM-II Missile

RudraM-II Missile Latest News

Recently, the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Air Force (IAF) have conducted the successful flight-tests of the RudraM-II missile. 

About RudraM-II Missile

• It is an indigenously-developed solid-propelled air-launched missile system.
• It is meant for Air-to-Surface role to neutralise many types of enemy assets.
• It has been indigenously developed by Research Centre Imarat, Hyderabad as the nodal DRDO laboratory in collaboration with other sister labs. 

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Key Features of RudraM-II Missile

• Speed: It can reach a peak speed of Mach 5.5.
• Range: It is capable of striking targets at a distance of approximately 300 km.
• Payload: It can carry a warhead weighing up to 200 kg.
• It can be deployed from aircraft like Sukhois flying at altitudes ranging from 3 to 15 km.
• It acts as a key force multiplier and intends to eventually replace the older Russian-origin Kh-31 anti-radiation missiles.
• It uses a hybrid navigation system combining an inertial navigation system, GPS and a sophisticated passive homing head that detects radio frequency emissions across a wide frequency band.

What is an Anti-Radiation Missile?

• These are designed to detect, track and neutralise the adversary’s radar, communication assets and other radio frequency sources, which are generally part of their air defence systems.
• Such a missile’s navigation mechanism comprises
  • Inertial navigation system: A computerised mechanism that uses changes in the object’s own position — coupled with GPS, which is satellite-based.
  • Passive homing head: A system that can detect, classify and engage targets (radio frequency sources in this case) over a wide band of frequencies as programmed.

Source: PIB