Odisha: India successfully flight tested a long range surface-to-air missile against Pilotless Target Aircraft (PTA) on 20th Sept 2016 at 10:10 hrs and again at 14:25 hrs from Interim Test Range (ITR) at Balasore, Odisha.
Defence Research & Development Organization (DRDO) had undertaken joint development of Long Range Surface to Air Missile (LRSAM) for Indian Navy and Medium Range Surface to Air Missile (MRSAM) for Indian Air Force with M/s Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI), Israel.
Also known as Barak 8, from the Hebrew word for lightning, this missiles system is designed to defend against any type of airborne threat including aircraft, helicopters, anti-ship missiles, and UAVs as well as cruise missiles and combat jets. It also has the capability to simultaneously engage multiple targets during saturation attacks.
The naval version of the SAM system was tested from land and the earlier was flight tested from naval ships, at ITR. Both missiles directly hit their respective targets at different ranges and altitudes. The trajectory of the flight of missiles was throughout tracked and monitored by the radars and electro-optical systems installed at ITR. The first 32 missile array will be fitted on the Indian Navy stealth guided-missile destroyer INS Kolkata (D63). Each of the Barak system (missile container, radar, computers and installation) costs about $24 million.
Many industries viz. BDL, MIDHANI, TATA, GODREJ, SEC, PEL, ADITYA and others have contributed towards the development of missile systems. Both Israel and Indian scientists and technicians have been involved in the launch campaign. The Israel team was led by Mr. Boyes Levy, vice president IAI of Israel, whereas the Indian team was headed by Patrick D’Silva, project director, MSR Prasad, director DRDL and Dr. BK Das, director ITR. Dr. G Satheesh Reddy, DG (MSS) & SA to RM witnessed the launches.
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