A few more trials of the missile systems will be carried out before deployment on Indian Navy ships

The Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted two successful launches of Vertical Launch Short Range Surface to Air Missile (VL-SRSAM) on Monday. On both occasions, the missiles intercepted the simulated targets with pinpoint accuracy.

Designed and developed indigenously by DRDO for the Indian Navy, VL-SRSAM is meant for neutralizing various aerial threats at close ranges including sea-skimming targets.

The launches were carried out today from a static vertical launcher from Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur off the coast of Odisha, the Ministry of Defence said, adding that this was meant to be a demonstration of the missile system's vertical launch capability.

The missiles were tested for minimum and maximum range. VL-SRSAM with Weapon Control System (WCS) were deployed during the trials.

Senior scientists from various DRDO labs involved in the design and development of the system such as DRDL, RCI, Hyderabad and R&D Engineers, Pune monitored the two launches.

According to the ministry, the flight path and vehicle performance parameters were monitored using flight data, captured by various instruments such as Radar, EOTS and Telemetry systems deployed by ITR, Chandipur.

"The present trials have proved the effectiveness of the weapon system and few more trials will be conducted shortly before deployment on Indian Naval ships. Once deployed, the VL-SRSAM system will prove to be a force multiplier for the Indian Navy," the defence ministry said.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the DRDO on the successful trials. DRDO Chairman G Satheesh Reddy also congratulated the teams involved in the successful flight test of VL-SRSAM Missile System.