DRDO and Indian Army Successfully Conduct 4 MRSAM Flight Tests off Odisha Coast.

In April 2025, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), headquartered in New Delhi, along with the Indian Army (IA), successfully conducted four flight tests of the Army version of the Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM). These tests were carried out over a span of two days from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Island, located off the Odisha coast.

      - The trials were performed by the Army units from the Eastern and Southern Commands, under the technical guidance of DRDO. The objective of the trials was to evaluate the performance of the missile system in different real-world scenarios and to assess its accuracy and reliability under operational conditions.

      - The MRSAM system is a result of joint development between DRDO and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), which is headquartered in Lod, Israel. The comprehensive system includes components such as a multi-function radar, command post, mobile launcher, and various support vehicles. It is intended to strengthen India's air defence capabilities by neutralizing high-speed airborne threats.

      - The missile measures approximately 4.5 meters in length, weighs around 275 kilograms, and is capable of carrying a 60 kg payload. Its strike range extends up to 100 kilometers, and it achieves supersonic speeds, making it highly effective against a wide spectrum of aerial targets, including aircraft, helicopters, and incoming missiles.

Main Point :-   (i) The MRSAM missile is designed for high agility in the terminal phase, travelling at speeds of up to Mach 2. This agility ensures that it can engage even the most evasive aerial targets, thus improving the Indian Army's defensive response against evolving airborne threats.

      (ii) During the trial, the missiles were tested under varying conditions such as long-range, short-range, high-altitude, and low-altitude scenarios. In each case, the missiles successfully intercepted and destroyed their targets with precision, validating their design and operational readiness.

(iii) Performance data from the trials were collected using radars and electro-optical tracking systems deployed by the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur, Odisha. The data will support further analysis and possible enhancements to the MRSAM system in future deployments.
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