• The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Army conducted four successful flight-tests of the Army version of medium-range surface-to-air missile (MRSAM) from an island off the coast of Odisha on April 3 and 4.

• The MRSAM is developed jointly by the DRDO and Israel Aerospace Industries for use by the Indian Army. 

• The MRSAM Army weapon system comprises multi-function radar, command post, mobile launcher system and other vehicles.

• The four operational flight-trials were carried out against high-speed aerial targets.

• The missiles intercepted the aerial targets and destroyed them, registering direct hits. The trials were carried out to intercept four targets at long-range, short-range, high altitude and low altitude, proving the operational capability.

• The flight-tests were carried out with the weapon system in operational condition.

• The performance of the weapon system was validated through the flight data captured by range instruments like radars and electro-optical tracking systems deployed by Integrated Test Range, Chandipur.

• The flight tests from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island were carried out in the presence of senior officials from the DRDO and the Indian Army.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants.)