The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully test-fired a new generation anti-radiation missile from a Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force that can destroy a wide variety of enemy radars, air defence systems and communication networks from large stand-off ranges.

The missile, Rudram-1, is India’s first indigenously developed anti-radiation weapon system and it was test-fired at an integrated test range in Balasore in Odisha at around 10:30 am.

It is a potent weapon for IAF for suppression of enemy air defence effectively from large stand-off ranges.

What is an anti-radiation missile?

The anti-radiation missile picks up signals from radiation emitting platforms and systems and neutralises them.

It has INS-GPS navigation with Passive Homing Head for the final attack. The passive Homing Head can detect, classify and engage targets over a wide band of frequencies as programmed. 

Rudram hit the radiation target with pin-point accuracy and that the test established India’s capability to develop long range air launched anti-radiation missiles, the defence ministry said.

The missile, having a speed of Mach two or twice the speed of sound, is capable of bringing down a wide-range of enemy radar systems, communication networks and air defence systems within a range of up to 250 kilometers. 

The officials said the missile will be integrated into a batch of Su-30 MKI jets of the Indian Force once it is ready for induction.

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