The Indian Armed Forces, commemorating the 25th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas, showcased their military prowess through the 'Know Your Army' program. At the Kargil helipad, a range of weapons, missiles, and machinery were on display, including the Surface to Air Missile for Assured Retaliation (SAMAR) Air Defense System.
This formidable air defense system is stationed close to the border in Ladakh. The SAMAR system, which includes upgraded versions of the R-73 and R-27 missiles originally from Russia, was integrated into the military's arsenal last December.
The missiles, approaching their expiry, were ingeniously modified by the Indian Air Force into an efficient air defense system. The system's combat capabilities were demonstrated a few months ago at the Vayushakti exercise in Pokhran.
Let's delve into the prowess of this weapon.
SAMAR missiles are truck-launched and can target any aerial objective at a speed of 2982 km/hr. Operated by the Air Force's BRD unit, they can take down a variety of aerial threats including helicopters and fighter jets.
Source: aajtak
SAMAR-1 is designed for short-range engagements. The launcher can accommodate two missiles, with ranges between 12 to 40 km. The system can be equipped with different types of missiles, such as the SAMAR 1. After upgrades, it became a surface-to-air missile with a weight of 105 kg, a length of 9.7 feet, a diameter of 6.5 inches, and it can be fitted with a 7.4 kg warhead.
The more lethal and heavy SAMAR-2 is an air-to-air missile. It weighs 253 kg and measures 13.4 feet in length with a diameter of 9.1 inches. It features fins with a wingspan of 30.4 inches and can be armed with a 39 kg warhead, suitable for blast fragmentation or continuous rod purposes.
Source: aajtak
Different launch trucks are assigned for each missile variant—SAMAR-1 utilizes an Ashok Leyland Stallion 4x4 truck, while SAMAR-2 is launched from a BEML Tatra T815 8x8 truck. The adopted Russian missiles, the Vympel R-73 and R-27, have been adapted for use within the Indian terrain. The Indian Air Force has a sizable inventory of Vympel R-73E missiles at its disposal.
