India has successfully test-fired a long range surface-to-air missile, as part of its efforts to bolster its defence capability. The missile, developed jointly with Israel, was fired off from a mobile launcher from a defence base off the Odisha coast in the east.

 the missile was launched  from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur, Odisha. “Apart from the missile, the system includes a Multi Functional Surveillance and Threat Alert Radar (MF-STAR) for detection, tracking and guidance of the missile.

The successful test would be followed by more rounds of test that are expected to be conducted shortly , Several other missiles jointly developed by India and Israel were tested earlier this year. Three medium range surface-to-air missiles were test-fired successfully between 30 June and 1 July from the DRDO base at Chandipur. The Indian Navy also successfully tested the long range surface-to-air missile (LR-SAM) in late 2015, which was undertaken on the western seaboard by INS Kolkata.

The tested missiles would be inducted in all the three defence services – the army, navy and air force – following completion of trials, the news agency reported.

Defence Research and Development Organisation

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is an agency of the Republic of India, charged with the military’s research and development, headquartered in New Delhi, India.

It was formed in 1958 by the merger of the Technical Development Establishment and the Directorate of Technical Development and Production with the Defence Science Organisation. It is under the administrative control of the Ministry of Defence, Government of India.

 DRDO is India’s largest and most diverse research organisation. The organisation includes around 5,000 scientists belonging to the Defence Research & Development Service (DRDS) and about 25,000 other scientific, technical and supporting personnel.