NEW DELHI: India kicked off the acquisition process for three highly mobile regiments of indigenous quick reaction surface-to-air missile ( QRSAM ) systems that can detect and destroy aircraft, attack helicopters, drones, rockets and missiles at ranges of over 30km, at a cost of about Rs 30,000 crore.
The Army this week issued the tender or RFP (request for proposal) for the three regiments of the air defence system named “Anant Shastra”, which has been developed by DRDO and will be co-produced by defence PSUs Bharat Electronics and Bharat Dynamics.
QRSAM offers 360° radar, jamming shield, mobile launchers
The move comes after the intense cross-border hostilities with Pakistan from May 7 to 10 under Operation Sindoor. The Army Air Defence (AAD) has projected a requirement of 11 such QRSAM regiments in the long term, each with nine firing units, while the IAF at present is looking to induct three QRSAM squadrons, as was first reported by TOI.
With missile launchers, 360-degree radars, automated command and control systems and all-weather tracking systems mounted on high-mobility 8x8 vehicles, the QRSAM systems are designed to provide air defence cover to tanks, infantry combat vehicles and artillery guns.
"With their 'search, track and fire at short halt' capabilities, the QRSAM systems will be able to operate on the move with mechanised columns across plains, deserts and mountains both on the western (Pakistan) and northern (China) fronts. They will give protection not only against enemy aircraft but also new-age threats like swarm drones and loitering munitions," an officer said.
The QRSAM systems, with a 30-km interception range to neutralise incoming threats at altitudes of 6 to 10km, are also designed to resist electronic jamming to ensure accuracy even under hostile conditions.
"With pre-fragmented warheads, high-speed solid fuel propulsion and network integration with the Army's Akashteer command & control network, the Anant Shastra will be a tactical game-changer. It will replace old systems such as the Russian-origin OSA-AK to give the Army a faster, smarter and more mobile shield," another officer said.
Once inducted, the QRSAM systems will add to the country's existing multi-layered air defence network of foreign and indigenous systems, which played a crucial role in thwarting multiple waves of Turkish-origin drones and Chinese missiles launched by Pakistan during the conflict.
In addition to its existing Akash surface-to-air missiles, which have a 25-km interception range, the AAD is also inducting two new Akash Prime regiments designed for air defence in high-altitude areas above 4,500-metre along the frontier with China under a Rs 8,160 crore contract in March 2023.
The AAD, which currently has 55 regiments of different weapon systems, is also going in for “smart and programmable ammunition” for its old L-70 anti-aircraft guns and ZU-23mm twin-barrel cannons, which incidentally performed well during Operation Sindoor.
“Parallelly, quickly-deployable counter-UAS (unmanned aerial systems) guns, with a high rate of fire, as well as successors to L-70 and ZU-23 guns will be required. Counter-RAM (rocket, artillery and mortar) capability similar to the Phalanx close-in weapon systems of the US will also be needed,” a third officer said.
The AAD will also have to go in for a major upgrade in its radars and sensors guiding the air defence guns. At present, they are geared to detect larger targets like aircraft instead of smaller ones like drones.
The Army this week issued the tender or RFP (request for proposal) for the three regiments of the air defence system named “Anant Shastra”, which has been developed by DRDO and will be co-produced by defence PSUs Bharat Electronics and Bharat Dynamics.
QRSAM offers 360° radar, jamming shield, mobile launchers
The move comes after the intense cross-border hostilities with Pakistan from May 7 to 10 under Operation Sindoor. The Army Air Defence (AAD) has projected a requirement of 11 such QRSAM regiments in the long term, each with nine firing units, while the IAF at present is looking to induct three QRSAM squadrons, as was first reported by TOI.
With missile launchers, 360-degree radars, automated command and control systems and all-weather tracking systems mounted on high-mobility 8x8 vehicles, the QRSAM systems are designed to provide air defence cover to tanks, infantry combat vehicles and artillery guns.
"With their 'search, track and fire at short halt' capabilities, the QRSAM systems will be able to operate on the move with mechanised columns across plains, deserts and mountains both on the western (Pakistan) and northern (China) fronts. They will give protection not only against enemy aircraft but also new-age threats like swarm drones and loitering munitions," an officer said.
The QRSAM systems, with a 30-km interception range to neutralise incoming threats at altitudes of 6 to 10km, are also designed to resist electronic jamming to ensure accuracy even under hostile conditions.
"With pre-fragmented warheads, high-speed solid fuel propulsion and network integration with the Army's Akashteer command & control network, the Anant Shastra will be a tactical game-changer. It will replace old systems such as the Russian-origin OSA-AK to give the Army a faster, smarter and more mobile shield," another officer said.
Once inducted, the QRSAM systems will add to the country's existing multi-layered air defence network of foreign and indigenous systems, which played a crucial role in thwarting multiple waves of Turkish-origin drones and Chinese missiles launched by Pakistan during the conflict.
In addition to its existing Akash surface-to-air missiles, which have a 25-km interception range, the AAD is also inducting two new Akash Prime regiments designed for air defence in high-altitude areas above 4,500-metre along the frontier with China under a Rs 8,160 crore contract in March 2023.
The AAD, which currently has 55 regiments of different weapon systems, is also going in for “smart and programmable ammunition” for its old L-70 anti-aircraft guns and ZU-23mm twin-barrel cannons, which incidentally performed well during Operation Sindoor.
“Parallelly, quickly-deployable counter-UAS (unmanned aerial systems) guns, with a high rate of fire, as well as successors to L-70 and ZU-23 guns will be required. Counter-RAM (rocket, artillery and mortar) capability similar to the Phalanx close-in weapon systems of the US will also be needed,” a third officer said.
The AAD will also have to go in for a major upgrade in its radars and sensors guiding the air defence guns. At present, they are geared to detect larger targets like aircraft instead of smaller ones like drones.
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