• Forum
• SITREP

• Military

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space
• Public Eye

Further Reading

India Army - Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile (QRSAM)

The Army uses Russian OSA-AK, Kvadrat, Shilka and Tunguska air-defense systems. India had made attempts to upgrade its badly outdated anti-aircraft and missile defenses, which still rely on antiquated Soviet era OSA-AKM [SA-8 Gecko] and ZRK-BD Strela-10M [SA-13 Gopher] SAM systems.

The all-weather, tracked-chassis Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile (QRSAM), intended to defend Army formations operating in plains and semi-desert areas, was required to engage all kinds of targets, including aircraft at altitudes up to 9 kilometers, hovering helicopters, missiles up to 800 meters per second and low-flying targets, including those that suddenly appear at close range. The QRSAM's radar should be able to track while scanning out to 28 kilometers; provide 3-D, 360-degree coverage; recognize identification-friend-or-foe beacons; detect ballistic and cruise missiles; and guide four missiles to separate targets. The 900-meter-per-second missiles should be able to hit targets 12 kilometers out and 6 kilometers up within six seconds of detection. The launchers should be able to operate 24 hours a day, move 150 kilometers a day with¬out refueling and have nuclear-biological-chemical protection.

Defense ministry officials granted permission for a global tender in mid-September 2007, after the state-owned Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) said the Rafael Spyder surface-to-air missile did not meet the Army's mobility requirements. But the Israeli missile remained the Indian Air Force's choice to replace Russian OSA self-propelled anti-aircraft integrated systems. The Indian Army planned to ask for bids to supply 56 Quick Re¬action Surface to Air Missile (QRSAM) mobile launcher systems worth more than $1.5 billion. The deal was to include the licensed production in India of more than 4,000 missiles over 20 years. Firms to be invited to bid are likely to include Israel's Rafael, Canada's Oerlikon Contraves, the U.S. Boeing and Raytheon, Russia's KPB Tula and, for the first time, DRDO.

DRDO was working with MBDA of France on a $500 million effort to develop the 35-kilometer Maitri quick-reaction missile, a blend of the French Mica and DRDO Trishul. Design will be carried out at Defence Research and Development Laboratory facilities in Hyderabad. MBDA would develop an active homing head, thrust-vector controls and missiles. DRDL will handle software, command-and-control, and integration.