The Indian Navy's aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya is set to enhance its air defense capabilities. Currently equipped with Israel's Barak-1 missile system, it will be replaced by the indigenously developed Vertical Launch Short Range Surface-to-Air Missile (VL-SRSAM) by 2026-27. Let's explore the features and significance of VL-SRSAM.
INS Vikramaditya and Barak-1
INS Vikramaditya, a flagship aircraft carrier of the Indian Navy, symbolizes India's strategic prowess in the Indian Ocean. Equipped with Israel's Barak-1 missile system, it provides protection against aerial threats like aircraft, drones, and anti-ship missiles.
Barak-1 is a point-defense system designed to eliminate short-range threats. It operates in an 8-cell container and counters aerial threats up to a distance of 500 meters. However, its range is limited to only 10-12 km, inadequate against modern threats.
In 2017, the Indian Navy began seeking a new SRSAM system to replace Barak-1, prioritizing indigenous technology. VL-SRSAM marks a significant stride in this direction, being not only superior to Barak-1 but also based on Indian technology.
What is VL-SRSAM?
VL-SRSAM (Vertical Launch Short Range Surface-to-Air Missile) is an indigenous missile system developed by DRDO, designed for the Indian Navy and Air Force. It is based on the Astra Mark 1 air-to-air missile and optimized for deployment on naval warships. Its main goal is to replace Barak-1 and shield ships from aerial threats such as aircraft, drones, helicopters, and sea-skimming anti-ship missiles.
Source: aajtak
Features of VL-SRSAM
VL-SRSAM boasts advanced technologies, making it significantly more effective than Barak-1. Its key features include:
Vertical Launch System: The missile is launched from a vertical launcher, providing 360-degree coverage and intercepting threats from any direction.
Range and Speed: With a range of 50-80 km, far exceeding Barak-1's 10-12 km, it flies at Mach 4.5 (4.5 times the speed of sound), allowing rapid target acquisition.
Navigation and Guidance: Equipped with fiber-optic gyroscope based inertial guidance for mid-flight and active radar homing for the terminal phase. It features lock-on-before-launch (LOBL) and lock-on-after-launch (LOAL) capabilities, receiving mid-flight updates via datalink.
Smokeless Propulsion: Employing a smokeless solid propellant motor, it leaves no smoke post-launch, making it hard to detect.
High Accuracy: Capable of pinpoint precision, demonstrated during tests at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur, Odisha, on March 26, 2025, where it destroyed a fast-moving aerial target at low altitude.
Weight and Design: Weighing 170 kg, with a length of 3.93 meters and a diameter of 178 mm, featuring a design with four small fins for stability in flight.
Electronic Countermeasures: Incorporates electronic counter-countermeasure (ECCM) features, enhancing effectiveness in electronic warfare scenarios.
Capacity: Each vertical launch system can house 40 missiles (8 missiles in twin quad-pack canisters), deployable across multiple launchers based on ship size.
Source: aajtak
Why VL-SRSAM on INS Vikramaditya?
Several reasons drive the replacement of Barak-1 with VL-SRSAM on INS Vikramaditya...
Indigenization:
While Barak-1 is an imported system, VL-SRSAM is entirely developed and manufactured in India, aligning with the goal of self-reliance.
Advanced Technology:
The range, speed, and accuracy of VL-SRSAM far surpass Barak-1. It can efficiently neutralize modern threats like sea-skimming missiles and drones.
Logistics Convenience:
The Indian Navy employs various SAM systems (Barak-1, Shtil-1, V601), complicating maintenance and training. VL-SRSAM simplifies logistics by integrating these systems.
Dual-Layer Defense:
VL-SRSAM and Barak-8 (LRSAM/MRSAM) together provide a dual-layer air defense for naval ships, with VL-SRSAM countering short-range and Barak-8 handling long-range threats.
Source: aajtak
Strategic Importance
Strength in the Indian Ocean:
INS Vikramaditya is a symbol of India's strategic presence in the Indian Ocean. VL-SRSAM will bolster this presence, especially against rivals like China and Pakistan.
Defense Against Modern Threats:
Drones, hypersonic missiles, and low-altitude anti-ship missiles pose significant threats in modern warfare. The agility and precision of VL-SRSAM can counter these effectively.
Export Potential:
The low cost and indigenous supply chain of VL-SRSAM make it an attractive export product, enhancing the global reach of India's defense industry.
