Balasore: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Navy  today successfully flight-tested Vertical Launch Short Range Surface-To-Air Missile (VL-SRSAM) from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur off Odisha coast. The flight test was conducted from an Indian Naval ship against a high-speed unmanned aerial target to demonstrate vertical launch capability. The missiles, which are equipped with indigenous radio frequency (RF) seeker, intercepted the target with high accuracy.

During the test launch, flight path and vehicle performance parameters were monitored using flight data and captured by various Range instruments such as Radar Electro-optical tracking system (EOTS) and Telemetry systems deployed by ITR, Chandipur.

The launch was monitored by senior scientists from various DRDO labs involved in design and development of the system such as Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad and R&D Engineers, Pune.

The VL-SRSAM system has been indigenously designed and developed by DRDO.

Congratulating the DRDO, Indian Navy and associated teams on the successful flight trial of VL-SRSAM, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated that the missile will prove to be a force multiplier for the Indian Navy. Secretary of Defence R&D department and DRDO Chairman G. Satheesh Reddy also congratulated the teams involved in the flight test and said the trial has proved the effectiveness of the weapon system. This will further strengthen the Indian Navy to counter various aerial threats at close ranges including sea-skimming targets, he added.