In a major milestone, India has leaped a step forward in missile technology with the country testing the new generation Anti Radiation Missile named Rudram 1. With this, the country has established indigenous capability to develop long range air launched anti-radiation missiles for neutralising enemy Radars, communication sites and other RF emitting targets.
Rudram was successfully Flight tested on Friday, October 10, onto a radiation target located on Wheeler Island off the coast of Odisha. The missile was launched from SU-30 MKI fighter aircraft.
RUDRAM is developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The missile is integrated on SU-30 MKI fighter aircraft as the launch platform, having capability of varying ranges based on launch conditions.
SALIENT FEATURES
- India’s first indigenous anti-radiation missile for the Air Force,
- Integrated on SU-30 MkI fighter aircraft as the launch platform, having the capability of varying ranges based on launch conditions.
- Rudram has INS-GPS navigation with Passive Homing Head for the final attack.
- Rudram can hit the radiation target with pin-point accuracy.
- Passive Homing Head can detect, classify and engage targets over a wide band of frequencies as programmed.
- Missile can further enhance the Suppression of Enemy Air Defence (SEAD) capability of the IAF.
- IT has a launch speed of up to Mach 2 – twice the speed of sound.
- Provide tactical air superiority in warfare.
- Feasibility studies on India’s next-generation anti-radiation missile (NGARM) began in 2012 with the intention of designing and configuring the missile fully indigenously.
- It is designed to eliminate or suppress radiation-emitting sources such as fire control or surveillance radars.
- Has a length of 5.5m, and weighs 600kg
- Missile integrated with a millimetre wave (MMW) active seeker terminal guidance system.
