The Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile has been developed jointly by the Defence Research and Development Organisation, India and IAI, Israel

In a major milestone, the Army version of the Medium Range Surface to Air Missile (MRSAM) was successfully test fired on Wednesday. The missile completely destroyed a high-speed unmanned aerial target which was mimicking an aircraft with a direct hit.

This was the missile's maiden launch and it was conducted from the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur, off the coast of Odisha.

The Army version of MRSAM is a Surface-to-Air Missile has been developed jointly by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), India and IAI, Israel for use by the Indian Army, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement.

The MRSAM Army weapon system comprises a Command post, Multi-Function Radar and Mobile Launcher system. The complete Fire Unit was used during the launch in the deliverable configuration.

A number of range instruments such as Radar, Telemetry and Electro-Optical Tracking System were deployed and captured the complete mission data, validating the weapon system performance including the destruction of the target.

A team from the Indian Army, which will eventually use the missile system, witnessed the launch.

Lauding the efforts of the DRDO and other teams associated with today's launch, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that India has attained a high level of capability in the indigenous design and development of advanced weapon systems.

Secretary Dept. of Defence R&D and Chairman, DRDO Dr G Satheesh Reddy also congratulated the DRDO community for successfully demonstrating the performance of the MRSAM Army weapon system registering direct target hit in its maiden launch, the ministry's statement said.

Today's launch came barely a month after the back-to-back successful test firing of the Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile (QRSAM) in November. The QRSAM, which can detect and track targets on the move, is intended to provide air defence cover to columns of the Indian Army.