First Missile of the first firing unit of MRSAM (Medium Range Surface to Air Missile) for the Indian Air Force was flagged off at Bharat Dynamics Ltd, Kanchanbagh unit by M S R Prasad, Director General (Missiles & Strategic Systems) DRDO.
MRSAM is a high response, quick reaction, vertically launched supersonic missile, designed to neutralize enemy aerial threats – missiles, aircraft, guided bombs, helicopters. Used by Army, Navy and Air Force as different variants. The missile has a range up to 70 km.
Missile system can provide point and area defence against various aerial targets including fighter aircraft, subsonic & supersonic cruise missiles. The Missile is powered by indigenously developed dual-pulse rocket motor and dual control system to impart required manoeuvrability at the terminal phase. This state of art weapon system is designed with active Radio Frequency seeker to identify, track, engage and destroy the target with high kill probability.
Defence Public Sector company, BDL, is a manufacturer and supplier of Guided Missiles, Underwater Weapons, Air-borne products and allied defence equipment for Indian Armed Forces. As a part of its Product Life Cycle Support, BDL has been supporting the Armed Forces with Refurbishment / Life Extension of vintage Missiles and obsolescence Management.
Commodore Siddharth Mishra (Retd), CMD, BDL stated that MRSAM is one of the best examples of joint development of a weapon system. BDL has already completed the Navy order and now both Army and Air Force programmes are moving simultaneously. The Company is also aiming to expand its footprints in the international market by offering Air to Air Missiles, Anti-Tank Guided missiles, underwater weapons, and CounterMeasure Systems in addition to Akash Missiles to friendly countries.
M S R Prasad, Distinguished Scientist & DG (Missiles and Strategic Systems) who is retiring from the BDL board as Government nominee was felicitated during the event.
BHVS Narayana Murthy, Director, Research Centre Imarat, N P Diwakar , Director (Technical) BDL,. P.Radhakrishna, Director (Production) BDL and senior officials of DRDO and BDL also participated.