VL-SRSAM

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(navalnews, jun.24)

India’s DRDO Tests VL-SRSAM Missile​

Vertical Launch Short Range Surface to Air Missile (VL-SRSAM) was successfully flight-tested by Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Navy from an Indian Naval Ship at Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur off the coast of Odisha on June 24, 2022.​

The VL-SRSAM, a ship borne weapon system, is meant for neutralising various aerial threats at close ranges including sea-skimming targets.

The launch of the system was conducted against a high speed aerial target mimicking aircraft, which was successfully engaged. The flight path of the vehicle along with health parameters were monitored using a number of tracking instruments deployed by ITR, Chandipur. The test launch was monitored by senior officials from DRDO & the Indian Navy.

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh has congratulated DRDO, Indian Navy and the industry for the successful flight-test and stated that the system has added an armour that will further enhance defence capability of Indian Naval ships against aerial threats.
Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar appreciated the Indian Navy & DRDO for the successful flight test of the VL-SRSAM and said that the development of this indigenous missile system will further strengthen the defensive capabilities of the Indian Navy.

Secretary, Department of Defence R&D & Chairman DRDO Dr G Satheesh Reddy complimented the teams involved in the successful flight test. He said, the test has proved the integration of indigenous weapon system onboard Indian Naval Ships. He added that it will prove to be a force multiplier for the Indian Navy and is another milestone towards Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’.
 
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INS Rana - Here, one can notice the VL-SRSAM on the back.
 
In P15, can this 8 round VLS be placed in place of the B1 placement?
Coz B1 itself was placed after removing the AK630
I doubt they will go with this configuration. The VLS of VL-SRSAM looks bigger than that of Barak-1. Either they will keep both the missiles for a total of 64 SAMs or remove Barak-1 with AK-630.
 
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The missile has a smokeless propulsion system and is equipped with electronic counter-countermeasures (ECCM) features. A BDL official told Janes that the missile can strike targets within a range of 50 km at a maximum elevation of 15 km.

BDL said that the missile has a length of 3,931 mm, a diameter of 178 mm, and a weight of 170 kg.

 
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The missile has a smokeless propulsion system and is equipped with electronic counter-countermeasures (ECCM) features. A BDL official told Janes that the missile can strike targets within a range of 50 km at a maximum elevation of 15 km.

BDL said that the missile has a length of 3,931 mm, a diameter of 178 mm, and a weight of 170 kg.

A much better replacement for Shtil missile. Initially, Navy wants 14 systems which will most probably go on-board:

03 P16A
03 Talwar class
03 P15
04 P28
01 INS Vikramaditya
 
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Are we also planning to equip the P15A and P15B destroyers with the VL-SRSAM?

I feel like our destroyers are under-equipped in terms of VLS compared to Western, Chinese or other East Asian counterparts.

Can we not swap 2 of the 4 AK-630s and put in a pair of 16-cell (total 32) VL-SRSAMs instead? Just like what we did with the Delhi class. That way we will have a total of 80 VLS (16+32+32). Using expensive Barak-8 to hit low flying targets would be waste of resources in my opinion. VL-SRSAMS can do that job.

Also, please correct me if I'm wrong but 4 AK-630s is just overkill in my opinion. Most modern destroyers, including the Chinese, have only one gun based CIWS. They all carry cheap, lower range, quick reaction SAMs instead.
 
Are we also planning to equip the P15A and P15B destroyers with the VL-SRSAM?
Not anytime soon. As of now, IN wants only 14 systems of VL-SRSAM. My guess is 4 P-28, 3 P-16A, 3 P-11356, 3 P-15, 1 INS Vikramaditya. Later on VL-SRSAM will go onboard NGMV, LHD, Talwar batch-2,3,4. I am not sure if P-17 will get VL-SRSAM or MRSAM.

Can we not swap 2 of the 4 AK-630s and put in a pair of 16-cell (total 32) VL-SRSAMs instead? Just like what we did with the Delhi class.
Delhi class and Shivalik class carry 2 AK-630 + Barak-1 because their main SAM is very slow to react ( Shtil missile). I have a feeling that VL-SRSAM will replace the Shtil as the main SAM on Delhi class and the Barak-1 VLS will either be removed or replaced by AK-630. Also, the vertical launcher of VL-SRSAM is much bigger than the Barak-1. It is very closer in size and dimension to MRSAM's launcher.
That way we will have a total of 80 VLS (16+32+32). Using expensive Barak-8 to hit low flying targets would be waste of resources in my opinion.
Don't worry. The frontline warships will get an even longer range SAM than the MRSAM and then we will have 2 tier solution. The Universal VLS is under development.