Vertical Launch Short Range Surface-to-Air Missile

Vertical Launch Short Range Surface-to-Air Missile Latest News

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is making rapid progress on a homegrown shield for Indian warships, the Vertical Launch Short Range Surface-to-Air Missile (VL-SRSAM).

About Vertical Launch Short Range Surface-to-Air Missile

• It is an indigenously developed Short-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (SRSAM).
• It is designed and developed by the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) for the Indian Navy.
• It is primarily a ship-based weapon for neutralising various aerial threats at close ranges.
• Its primary mission is to intercept “sea-skimming” targets—missiles or drones that fly just above the ocean surface to evade early radar detection. 

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Vertical Launch Short Range Surface-to-Air Missile Features

• Having a diameter of 178 mm and a wingspan of 508 mm, the missile is 3.93 metres long.
• Powered by a solid-propellant motor, the missile can hit top speeds of Mach 4.
• It is capable of engaging threats up to an operational range of 80 km and an altitude of 16 km.
• The system’s vertical launch capability is one of its most crucial operational advantages. 
• By firing straight up from canister-based launchers before turning toward its target, the missile provides 360-degree coverage. 
• This means a warship can intercept an incoming threat from any direction without needing to physically rotate the vessel or adjust a mechanical launcher. 
• It relies on a state-of-the-art Multi-Function Radar (MFR).
• This Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar scans the sky, identifies threats, assigns priority, and feeds this critical data to the onboard Weapon Control Computer (WCC). 
• As the missile approaches its target in the final phase of flight, an indigenous Radio Frequency (RF) seeker takes over to ensure pinpoint accuracy.

News: DEF