INS Surat Successfully Conducts MR-SAM Test in Arabian Sea.
Science and Technology
On April 24, 2025, the Indian Naval Ship (INS) Surat, a P15B Guided Missile Destroyer, successfully test-fired the Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MR-SAM) system, also known as Barak 8, in the Arabian Sea. This test demonstrates India’s preparedness to address emerging maritime security challenges.
- The MR-SAM system, developed jointly by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) of New Delhi and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), has a range of up to 70 kilometers and is designed to counter sea-skimming threats.
- It is an extension of the Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (LR-SAM) system and can be launched from both ship-based vertical launch systems (VLS) and land-based mobile launchers.
- The missile is 4.5 meters long, weighs approximately 275 kilograms (including a 60 kg warhead), and has a diameter of 22.5 cm at the missile body, expanding to 54 cm at the booster stage. First tested in 2016, MR-SAM has undergone several successful trials, proving its effectiveness against high-speed aerial targets.
Main Point :- (i) INS Surat is the fourth and final ship of the Project 158 Visakhapatnam-class stealth guided missile destroyers of the Indian Navy (IN), ranking among the world’s largest and most advanced destroyers.
(ii) The ship is equipped with state-of-the-art weapon-sensor systems and network-centric warfare capabilities, with 75% of its components being indigenously manufactured, in line with India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) initiative.
(iii) The ship measures 164 meters in length, has a displacement of approximately 7,400 tons, and can achieve speeds exceeding 30 knots (around 56 km/h).
About Indian Navy(IN)
Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) : Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi
Headquarter : Mumbai
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