The Indian Army is poised for a significant enhancement of its air defence capabilities with the impending acquisition of the Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile (QRSAM) system, valued at approximately Rs 30,000 crore. The Defence Ministry is expected to greenlight the procurement of three regiments of this indigenous missile system, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), during a Defence Acquisition Council meeting scheduled for late June.
The Defence Ministry is likely to take up the proposal for buying three regiments of the indigenous Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile system (QRSAM) for the Army Air Defence for deployment along the country’s western and northern borders, defence officials told ANI. The meeting of Defence Acquisition Council is planned to be held around the fourth week of June.
Recent field trials of the QRSAM under both day and night conditions have confirmed its operational readiness. Key technological features include active array battery surveillance radar, laser proximity fuzes, and the ability to engage multiple targets simultaneously. The missile system can also operate while on the move or during short halts, a crucial advantage in forward areas. Initial issues flagged in 2022, particularly those related to mobility and radar detection, have been addressed through successive DRDO upgrades.
With a range of around 30 km, the system would be complementing the existing systems in the forces like the MRSAM and Akash in short to medium ranges. The missile system performance has been extensively evaluated under both day and night operational scenarios during the trials.
