India successfully tests Vertically Launched Short Range Surface-to-Air missile

Balasore: India on Tuesday (December 7) successfully flight tested the indigenously developed new Vertical Launch Short Range Surface-to-Air Missile from Odisha coast here, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) said.

The DRDO-developed quick reaction surface-to-air-missile was test-launched from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur near here at about 3.08 pm, an official of the organisation said. To monitor the missile's trajectories number of tracking instruments were used.

The missile has an operational range of 50 to km distance and features mid-course inertial guidance through fiber optic gyroscope and active radar homing in the terminal phase, he said.

The DRDO in its official twitter post said, "Vertical Launch Short Range Surface to Air Missile for @IndianNavy was flight tested from ITR Chandipur. The missile was tested against an electronic target at a low altitude. The weapon is planned for integration onboard naval ships."

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO, Indian Navy and industry for the successful flight test of VLSRSTA and said the system will enhance the defence capability of Indian naval ships against aerial threat, RMO (defence minister) India said in its official Twitter post.

Ahead of the test firing of the tactical missile on Tuesday (December 7), Balasore district administration as a safety measure temporarily shifted more than 4,500 people residing within a 2.5 km radius of launch pad number 3 of the ITR from where the weapon with a dummy pay load was positioned and launched.

A district revenue official said, on the request of ITR authority people residing in six hamlets in close proximity to the ITR launch site had to be temporarily shifted to nearby shelter centers with compensation. They will return to their homes after the DRDO gives the green signal for it.