SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
The Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) is on the verge of approving a massive ?25,000 crore order for the Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile (QRSAM) system, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), according to idrw.org sources. This significant procurement, following the completion of Limited Series Production (LSP) unit deliveries in FY 2024-25, aims to enhance the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) ability to counter aerial threats, particularly in light of recent escalations along the Indo-Pak border. However, while the order signals a push for indigenous defense solutions, it also raises questions about the system’s readiness and the IAF’s broader air defense strategy.
The QRSAM, designed to provide 360-degree air defense coverage, is a mobile system mounted on an Ashok Leyland 8×8 truck, capable of intercepting aircraft, drones, and cruise missiles within a 30 km range and up to 10 km altitude. Developed by DRDO in collaboration with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), the QRSAM features a single-stage, solid-propellant missile with a mid-course inertial navigation system, a two-way data link, and a terminal active radar seeker developed by Research Centre Imarat.
The system’s development began in 2014 with a budget of ?476.43 crore, following the IAF’s decision to abandon a global acquisition program in favor of an indigenous solution to replace aging Soviet-era systems like the OSA-AK and Kvadrat. The QRSAM has undergone multiple successful tests since its first firing in 2017, with BEL confirming at Aero India 2023 that the Indian Army had ordered five weapon systems, expected to be delivered by 2024. A single QRSAM system includes a Regiment Command Post Vehicle, three battery units—each with a Battery Surveillance Radar, a Battery Command Post, and four combat groups equipped with multi-purpose radars and six-missile launchers—along with 72 missiles.
The completion of LSP deliveries in FY 2024-25, as noted suggests that the QRSAM has met initial operational requirements, paving the way for this large-scale order. This procurement will significantly enhance the IAF’s air defense network, which currently relies on a mix of systems like the indigenous Akash (25-30 km range), the Israeli Barak-8 (70 km range), and the Russian S-400 (400 km range). The QRSAM’s quick reaction time and ability to engage multiple targets simultaneously—up to six per launcher—fill a critical gap in short-range, rapid-response defense, especially against low-altitude threats like drones and loitering munitions, which have proliferated in modern warfare.
However, the QRSAM’s deployment comes with caveats. Unverified reports from 2022 mentioned challenges in detecting and engaging hovering helicopters at low altitude and minimum range, though DRDO and the MoD claimed all tests that year were successful. The Army has since suggested improvements, and a laser-based end-game fuze has been incorporated to enhance accuracy against agile targets. Yet, the system’s 90% indigenous component claim, while laudable, masks potential supply chain bottlenecks. BDL, responsible for missile production, has faced delays in past programs like the Astra Mk1, and scaling production to meet the IAF’s needs—potentially hundreds of missiles—could strain its capacity. Moreover, the IAF’s air defense strategy remains heavily reliant on foreign systems like the S-400, with deliveries of the remaining two units delayed due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, highlighting vulnerabilities in India’s self-reliance push.
The timing of this order is strategic, given recent Indo-Pak tensions, including the Pahalgam massacre and India’s scrapping of the 2021 LoC ceasefire. The QRSAM’s deployment will strengthen the IAF’s Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS), enabling seamless integration with other radar and missile networks to plug surveillance gaps. However, the IAF’s broader challenge—operating at 31 squadrons against a sanctioned strength of 42.5—means that even with advanced systems like the QRSAM, it may struggle to maintain comprehensive air defense coverage across its vast borders. Critics also argue that the focus on short-range systems diverts resources from long-term projects like Project Kusha, a 350 km-range air defense system slated for 2028-29, which would better counter threats from China’s stealth fighters and ballistic missiles.
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