Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MR-SAM)

PRELIMS BITS

Context:

The Indian Navy recently conducted a successful test of the MR-SAM air defence missile system aboard the INS Surat warship in the Arabian Sea. INS Surat is the fourth and final ship in the P15B Guided Missile Destroyer Project.

Key Features:

• MR-SAM: A quick-response, high-speed, vertically launched supersonic missile designed to counter enemy aerial threats.
• Components: The system includes a Multi-Function Surveillance and Threat Alert Radar (MFSTAR), a Weapon Control System (WCS), and a Vertical Launcher Unit (VLU).
• Development: The missile system was developed by DRDO in collaboration with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), with production by Bharat Dynamics Limited.
• Range and Weight: The MR-SAM is a mobile, land-based system with a range of up to 70 km and weighs 275 kg.

Capabilities:

• Capable of engaging multiple targets simultaneously.
• Suitable for both point and area air defence.
• Able to intercept targets at various altitudes, including low, medium, and high.
• Operates effectively in all weather conditions.
• Exhibits high manoeuvrability, making it effective against fast-moving targets.
• Particularly effective against surface-to-surface missiles and other aerial threats.