IAF boosts its firepower; inducts medium-range SAM air defence system
By Anish Kumar | First Published Sep 9, 2021, 5:10 PM ISTMR-SAM, a quick-reaction, high-response, a vertically-launched supersonic missile designed to hit adversary's aircraft, missiles, guided bombs and helicopters.
Enhancing the Indian Air Force arsenal, India on Thursday inducted the medium-range Surface-to-Air Missile Air Defence System into Jaisalmer-based Air Force station in Rajasthan.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and IAF Chief ACM RKS Bhadauria, who is on a one-day tour to Rajasthan, witnessed the commissioning ceremony.
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Earlier, Rajnath Singh along with Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari inaugurated a 3.5-km airstrip on the Barmer National Highway in the state.
At the MR-SAM induction ceremony, Rajnath Singh said that with the induction of the MR-SAM system into the Indian Air Force., the country was taking another step towards self-reliance in indigenous defence technologies.
Talking about the new world order, the minister said, "Global scenario is changing rapidly and unexpectedly leading to changes in equations between different countries. Be it the South China Sea, Indian Ocean Region, Indo-Pacific or Central Asia, a situation of uncertainty can be seen. The crisis in Afghanistan is an example of this."
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"The economy, power-politics and security scenario are impacted by the changing geopolitical situation can be seen in. In this condition, our strong defence system and self-reliance are not our achievement but have become our need," he added.
MR-SAM, a quick-reaction, high-response, a vertically-launched supersonic missile designed to hit adversary's aircraft, missiles, guided bombs and helicopters.
This air defence system has a range of up to 70 km and a speed of Mach-2, which would be helpful in protecting the Indian military installations. The system is powered by an indigenously developed dual-pulse rocket motor and dual control system to impart the required manoeuvrability at the terminal phase.
About a decade ago, the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and the Defence Research and Development Organisation had signed a pact to develop the system.
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