VLSRSAM tested from ITR Chandipur
The 10th ACTCM Barge, LSAM 24 (Yard 134) was launched on 26 Mar 25 at Suryadipta Projects Pvt Ltd, Thane, by Chief Guest Cmde Rahul Jagat, SPS, Submarine Overseeing Team (SOT), Mumbai.
The contract for construction of 11 Ammunition cum Torpedo cum Missile Barges was concluded with MSME Shipyard, Suryadipta Projects Pvt Ltd on 5 Mar 2021.
These Barges have been indigenously designed and built by the Shipyard in collaboration with an Indian Ship Design firm and Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) respectively, the Ministry of Defence said on 27 Mar.
Model testing was undertaken at Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL), Visakhapatnam, to ensure seaworthiness.
The Shipyard has successfully delivered nine of 11 barges till date and are being effectively utilised by Indian Navy for its operational evolutions.
Separately, the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Navy have conducted the successful flight-test of indigenously-developed Vertically-Launched Short-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (VLSRSAM) from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur off the coast of Odisha at about 1200 hrs on 26 Mar 2025.
The flight-test was carried out from a land-based vertical launcher against a high-speed aerial target at very close range and low altitude. It has established the Near-Boundary-Low Altitude capability of the missile system.
During the test, the target was completely destroyed by the missile executing the high turn rate required for engaging targets at very close range, and establishing the missile’s agility, reliability & pin-point accuracy. The test was conducted with all weapon system elements deployed in combat configuration.
These elements, including missile with indigenous Radio Frequency seeker, Multi-Function Radar and Weapon Control System, have performed as per expectations. The performance of the system was validated by the flight data captured by various Range Instruments developed by ITR Chandipur.
Congratulating DRDO, Indian Navy and the industry, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh termed the missile system as proof of India’s strong design and development capabilities in defence R&D.
It will be an excellent force multiplier for the Indian Navy, he said.
Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Dr Samir V Kamat added that the missile, equipped with modern technologies, will give further technological boost to the Armed Forces. Fiinews.com
