India's Su-30MKI Fighter Jets to be Armed with Indigenous Hypersonic 'RudraM-III' Missile

In a move set to redefine India's air combat capabilities, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is poised to equip Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets with the domestically developed RudraM-III hypersonic anti-radiation missile.

This indigenous weapon, traveling at speeds exceeding Mach 5 and boasting a range of 550 kilometers, is designed to neutralize enemy radar installations and critical infrastructure, significantly bolstering the Indian Air Force's (IAF) offensive prowess.

The integration project targets older Su-30MKI variants previously excluded from the Unified Manufacturing Contract (UMC). These jets will undergo modifications to accommodate the RudraM-III, including adjustments to weapon stations and the incorporation of a specially designed bomb rack.

Seamless operation of the missile will be achieved through its interface with the Su-30MKI's existing mission computer and display processor, leveraging the aircraft's established data bus network. Electrical compatibility is paramount, and tender documents emphasize strict adherence to the Electrical Interface Control Document (ICD) developed by RCI, Hyderabad.

Nicknamed the "radar killer," the RudraM-III is engineered to locate and destroy enemy radar installations, which are pivotal for air defence systems. By eliminating these radars, the IAF can pave the way for its fighter jets to execute offensive missions and safeguard its own systems from being jammed.

This development marks a monumental leap for India's indigenous defence capabilities, underscoring the nation's commitment to advanced weaponry. It empowers the IAF with a potent long-range strike capability, ensuring preparedness for modern warfare scenarios.

 

[sanket]

India is interested in buying 12 Sukhoi from Russia , Instead India should have gone for 18 Su-30 MKI , this 6 jets may b used for Testbed Various weapons , with Rudram series Su-30 MKI will have edge over Rafale . Rafale does not have Anti-Radiation Missile in its weapon package .

 

[NSR]

Rudram III will add extraordinary power projections to Indian fighters with long range and extreme lethality against the Radar stations.
It is more like Israelis Rampage missile which destroyed Iranian S-300 radar site.

Timely and great development for Indian defense.

Way to go!!!

 

[Bhishma]

Rudram III will add extraordinary power projections to Indian fighters with long range and extreme lethality against the Radar stations.
It is more like Israelis Rampage missile which destroyed Iranian S-300 radar site.

Timely and great development for Indian defense.

Way to go!!!

Could be employed in carrier killer roles too

 

[NSR]

Could be employed in carrier killer roles too

There are radars on aircraft carriers so they can be used to destroy those radars but I do not think it has enough lethality to be a carrier killer.
But sometimes, one can be lucky and some armaments on its own carrier can get exploded and will sink it precipitously.

 

[Superpower Bharat]

There are radars on aircraft carriers so they can be used to destroy those radars but I do not think it has enough lethality to be a carrier killer.
But sometimes, one can be lucky and some armaments on its own carrier can get exploded and will sink it precipitously.

May be it can't sink a carrier but certainly it damages the runway. So it means aircraft can't take off from that

 

[Superpower Bharat]

Now question is wheather Rudram 1 has been inducted. Status of Rudram 2. When it will be inducted?

 

[NSR]

May be it can't sink a carrier but certainly it damages the runway. So it means aircraft can't take off from that

First it has to get away from the air and missile defenses of entire carrier battle group warships and that is an extremely difficult job.

 

[Bhishma]

There are radars on aircraft carriers so they can be used to destroy those radars but I do not think it has enough lethality to be a carrier killer.
But sometimes, one can be lucky and some armaments on its own carrier can get exploded and will sink it precipitously.

Rudram is 155kg for anti radiation and 200kg for ground attack. Almost close to Brahmos 200-300kg warhead. We have claimed that 3 Brahmos can sink a carrier. With almost twice the speed of Brahmos, cant 2-3 Rudrams do the job ?

 

[Bhishma]

First it has to get away from the air and missile defenses of entire carrier battle group warships and that is an extremely difficult job.

Fighter/launch platform - may be yes, but we still have 500+km range. But missile itself - no. One does not simply intercept hypersonic. Heck, no one has demonstrated to intercept brahmos yet

500km can be covered at approx 250s ie 4-5m. With waypoint navigation we can chart the course for missile, dodge all the CBG defenses and hit the carrier.

 

[Sandeep]

Could be employed in carrier killer roles too

No the Rudram 3 missile doesn't have the necessary large warhead or explosive power to kill carriers. One missile can severely damage the carrier but it would need to launch several missiles to kill it.

 

[Boomeranger]

Could be employed in carrier killer roles too

AND, AWACS killers also as Awacs are radar emitters...

 

[Kailash]

This missile is a crucial piece of the puzzle. Especially till the AMCA is inducted en masse, the suppression and destruction of enemy air defense using non-stealth aircrafts needs a very accurate missiles with a large standoff distance. Rudram will be like an opening batsman in may a wars for India.

 

[Kailash]

India is interested in buying 12 Sukhoi from Russia , Instead India should have gone for 18 Su-30 MKI , this 6 jets may b used for Testbed Various weapons , with Rudram series Su-30 MKI will have edge over Rafale . Rafale does not have Anti-Radiation Missile in its weapon package .

We should be good. We have some decent number of Sukhoi's structurally reinforced to the carry the Brahmos. And if they can carry that much weight, most other missiles are a cakewalk.

 

[Kailash]

Could be employed in carrier killer roles too

We already have the air launched Brahmos for that role

 

[Kailash]

Rudram is 155kg for anti radiation and 200kg for ground attack. Almost close to Brahmos 200-300kg warhead. We have claimed that 3 Brahmos can sink a carrier. With almost twice the speed of Brahmos, cant 2-3 Rudrams do the job ?

I am sure IAF knows the full capability, and it will work out all the mixes that it can fit.

 

[Sandeep]

This is a brilliant achievement and it's a critical missile that's really needed. Although they might need to make some minor modifications to the Sukhoi hard point it's possible that they can carry around 8 missiles at least. This makes it better than the Brahmos missile as the Sukhoi jet can only carry one missile and only after making major structural changes to carry the very heavy and bulky missile. The Rudram 3 has a much longer range of 550km against the Brahmos 300km along with a much faster speed of Mach 5 against the Brahmos Mach 3 which will cause a lot of damage.

Now the next stage is to install it on our other jets like Tejas MK1A and MK2 whenever production starts on that jet along with the Mig 29, Mirage 2000 and Jaguar jets which will enhance our Air Force capability and fire power.

Although primarily designed as a anti radiation missile to target SAM defence systems and radar network systems and communication centre we need to modify the missile so we can use it to destroy any type of targets against advanced weaponry sites, reinforced bunkers, main command centres, critical ammunition storage, MRO facilities, key weapons manufacturing company along with general defence industries that can help or contribute in a war.

 

[Anant]

Rudram is 155kg for anti radiation and 200kg for ground attack. Almost close to Brahmos 200-300kg warhead. We have claimed that 3 Brahmos can sink a carrier. With almost twice the speed of Brahmos, cant 2-3 Rudrams do the job ?

3 BrahMos hits aren't sinking a carrier unless you hit it in very strategic places. A large carrier may well require over a dozen BrahMos hits to actually be in danger of sinking, which means you may well need 100-ish missile actually fired at it.

On a similar note, if you assume the Rudram-III has a warhead that is 50% of that of the BrahMos, you'd need about three times as many Rudrams hitting the carrier. That comes up to 35-40 Rudram hits, and quite probably many more. Even with a lower interception rate, that works out to 125-ish Rudrams being needed to put a carrier in any danger of sinking.

Mission-killing the carrier, on the other hand, would take far fewer missiles.

 

[Bhishma]

3 BrahMos hits aren't sinking a carrier unless you hit it in very strategic places. A large carrier may well require over a dozen BrahMos hits to actually be in danger of sinking, which means you may well need 100-ish missile actually fired at it.

On a similar note, if you assume the Rudram-III has a warhead that is 50% of that of the BrahMos, you'd need about three times as many Rudrams hitting the carrier. That comes up to 35-40 Rudram hits, and quite probably many more. Even with a lower interception rate, that works out to 125-ish Rudrams being needed to put a carrier in any danger of sinking.

Mission-killing the carrier, on the other hand, would take far fewer missiles.

You're making wild assumptions with your nos. You're saying Brahmos interception rate is 88% and rudram interception rate is about 75%. There is zero evidence of Brahmos being intercepted or even any tech in paper that can claim this. Hypersonic cruise missiles were made with the intention of not being "interceptable". How can you have 75% interception !
Rudram III might have lighter warhead, but it has kinetic energy & the impact will be much higher. Taking a 600kg Rudram at mach 5.5 & comparing it with 1330kg Brahmos NG at mach 3, the Rudram will have almost 2x kinetic energy.