In a major development that could send a chill down the spine of India's adversaries, the chief of the country's Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), Dr. Samir V Kamat, has announced that New Delhi has successfully test-fired the latest version of its anti-radiation missile, called the RudraM-II.
What is an Anti-Radiation Missile?
Despite its moniker, an anti-radiation missile has nothing to do with radiation. It is designed to destroy the enemy's air defense system, including radars, radio frequency assets, and other communication equipment.
RUDRAM is first indigenous anti-radiation missile of the country for Indian Air Force (IAF), being developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
© Photo : Sidhant Sibal/twitter
Indian History of Anti-Radiation Missiles
Until 2020, India did not produce it's own ARM and relied on Russian-supplied Kh-31 missiles to pierce the enemy's air defenses.
The Indian Air Force's (IAF) first tryst with anti-radiation missiles came in 2001, when New Delhi purchased nearly 150 ARMs from close ally Moscow, a combination of Kh-31As and Kh-31Ps.
Subsequently, India acquired the Kh-31PD missiles, the more advanced and lethal version of the weapon in 2019. Both the IAF and the Indian Navy currently use the Kh-31 missiles.
'Supersonic Death' in Ukraine
The Kh-31PD missiles are presently in operation in Ukraine with Russia deploying them extensively to hit Kiev's air defense network, something military planners in New Delhi have watched with keen interest.
According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the Kh-31PDs have achieved a 98 percent kill rate against Ukrainian forces, releasing several videos in support of its claims where Su-35 and Su-30SM fighters could be seen firing these missiles.
As the missile is invariably undestroyable by the anti-aircraft defenses of the adversary because of its high speed, which stands at 2,160 to 2,520 km per hour, the Kh-31PD has been dubbed 'Supersonic Death' by Russian pilots who have experienced its pinpoint accuracy first-hand.
Having a range of 250 km and a warhead weighing 110 kg, the Kh-31PD can be fired from an elevation of up to 15 km from an aircraft.
What Helps the RudraM-II Wreak Havoc on the Enemy
Inspired by the Kh-31 series of missiles, India's RudraM-II is said to be equally good at taking out radar installations as well as wreaking havoc on the surface-to-air missile systems of the adversary.
A Sukhoi SU-30 displays its skills during an air show ahead of the anniversary of Indian Air Force and the diamond jubilee celebration of the Tezpur Air Force Station in Tezpur, India, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2019
© AP Photo / Anupam Nath
While its previous variant could only be fired by India's Russian-origin Sukhoi Su-30MKI warplanes, the advanced and modern version can also be launched from the IAF's Mirage-2000 fighters, acquired from France in the 1980s, giving more teeth to the force's capabilities.
While RudraM-II's predecessor employed a "passive homing head (PHH)" for targeting the enemy's ground-based radars, including communication assets and command and control system, the RudraM-II's capabilities have been enhanced with the addition of an Imaging Infrared (IIR).
With IIR and PHH working in tandem, RudraM-II can easily attack enemy bunkers, airbases, arms and ammunition depots, aircraft hangars, etc, in addition to striking "radiation-emitting targets."
With IIR and PHH working in tandem, RudraM-II can easily attack enemy bunkers, airbases, arms and ammunition depots, aircraft hangars, etc, in addition to striking "radiation-emitting targets."