The Indian Navy has carried out the maiden firing of its newly developed Long Range Surface to Air Missile (LR SAM) on December 30.
The firing was undertaken on the Western Seaboard by INS Kolkata, wherein the missile successfully intercepted an aerial target at extended ranges, the Navy said.
Apart from the missile, the system includes a Multi Functional Surveillance and Threat Alert Radar (MF STAR) for detection, tracking and guidance of the missile. The firing trial of the LR SAM has been jointly carried out by the Indian Navy, DRDO and Israel Aerospace Industries.
Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad, a defense research and development lab, has jointly developed this missile in collaboration with Israel Aerospace Industries. The LR SAM has been manufactured by M/s Bharat Dynamics Limited, India.
According to the Indian Navy, these Surface to Air Missiles are fitted onboard the Kolkata Class Destroyers and would also be fitted on all future major warships of the Indian Navy. This missile along with the MF STAR would provide these ships the capability to neutralize aerial threats at extended ranges.
The Navy said that the successful proving of these systems had made her part of a select group of Navies that have this niche capability, which would provide a fillip to its maritime operations.
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