India on May 30, 2024, conducted the successful missile test of Rudram Air to Surface Missile from the Su-30MKI platform of the Indian Air Force (IAF). The flight test happened off the coast of Odisha at around 11:30 AM, the Ministry of Defence said. Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) took to X and announced that the fight test met all trial objectives.
“Indigenously developed Air to Surface missile Rudram-II was successfully tested from IAF Su-30MKI off the coast of Odisha today. The flight test met all objectives of trial and validating that propulsion system, control, guidance algorithm, Defence ministry spokesperson of DRDO wrote. The word Rudram has its origins in Sanskrit and “means remover of sorrows”
The performance of the missile was validated from the flight data captured by range tracking instruments like electro optical systems, radar and telemetry stations deployed by the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur at various locations including the onboard ship, an Indian media agency reported. Meanwhile Defence Minister Rajanth Singh congratulated the people involved for this big achievement.
Taking to X, the office of the Defence Minister of India wrote, “Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh congratulated the DRDO, IAF, and defence industry on the successful flight test of the Rudram-II missile from the Su-30MKI platform. He said that the successful test of the Rudram-II has consolidated the role of the missile as a force multiplier to the Indian Armed Forces.”
The Secretary of the Department of Defence (R&D) and Chairman of the DRDO, Dr Samir Kamat also complemented the DRDO and team for their untiring efforts and contribution culminating in successful flight test, the Defence Ministry said, an Indian media agency reported. According to the MoD, Rudram-II is an indigenously developed missile solid propelled air launched missile system. It is an Air to Surface Missile which can neutralise many destructive assets of India’s adversaries.
Several state-of-the-art indigenous technologies developed by various DRDO laboratories have been incorporated into this missile system. This weapon platform can pick up radio frequencies and signals from radars over 100km away. It can also operate on Lock-on-Before or After-Launch-Systems. Its internal guidance system let it guide itself to the target it has been fired.
It can carry a payload of 200 kilograms and can hit a speed of Mach 5.5. This weapon falls under the category of Anti-Radiation Missile (ARM). The ARM is designed to seek and destroy enemy defence systems including radar, communication assets, and other radio frequency assets. The Missile system is expected to play a vital role in strengthening India’s aerial security and defence preparedness.
