Defence
After Russian S-400, India Deploys MRSAM In Eastern Sector Amid Tensions With China In Arunachal
Ujjwal Shrotryia
Feb 24, 2023, 05:40 PM | Updated 05:40 PM IST
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The Indian Army has started to induct Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM) system, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) jointly with the Israelis, reported Economic Times (ET).
MRSAM air-defense systems will be inducted in the Eastern Theatre, the ET report said quoting army officials.
Russian-made S-400, another highly advanced Air-Defence system is also reported to be deployed in the Eastern theatre, in the Chicken Neck Sector of Sikkim, against the Chinese.
MRSAM along with S-400, experts believe, can be a formidable opponent to Chinese People Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), providing full spectrum Air-Defence capabilities to Indian Armed Forces.
The two sides clashed in Arunachal's Tawang in December last year and tensions along the Line of Actual Control in the north-east have been high since then.
The production of this missile is being done by various public and private companies.
One such company is Kalyani Rafael Advanced Systems (KRAS), a Joint Venture between Kalyani Group and Israel’s Rafael, which produces the mid-section kit of the missile.
These mid-section kits are subsequently forwarded to Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) for further assembly and integration.
MRSAM’s army variant was last tested in mid-2022 (July) from Integrated Test Range (ITR) Balasore, where the missile met all its performance parameters, a press release by DRDO said.
The MRSAM system in the Indian Army’s service will be called “Abhra”, Mahendra Rawat, spokesperson for the Defence Ministry said in the raising ceremony.
“This will be such a giant leap towards indigenisation in the defence sector, India will soon become self-reliant in defence manufacturing in line with the national aim of Atmanirbhar Bharat,” Lt Gen RP Kalita, GOC-in-C, Eastern Command said.
Apart from the Indian Army, Indian Air Force and Indian Navy will also use variants of MRSAM.
This system can provide air defence against a vast array of aerial targets like UAVs, helicopters, and cruise and ballistic missiles.
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Editorial Associate at Swarajya. Writes on Indian Military and Defence.
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