RUDRAM-1 (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: India successfully test-fires new generation anti-radiation missile ‘Rudram-1’

Rudram-1

• About: It is the first indigenous anti-radiation missile designed by DRDO specifically for the Indian Air Force (IAF).
• Key Features

oLaunch Platform: It is designed to be launched from Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jets, a mainstay of the IAF.

oGuidance System: Utilizes Inertial Navigation Systems (INS)-GPS navigation coupled with a Passive Homing Head for precision targeting during the final attack phase.

oRange and Speed: Capable of striking targets at distances ranging from 100 to 250 km with a speed reaching up to Mach 2, twice the speed of sound.

Significance of Rudram-1

• Enhanced SEAD Capability: Rudram-1 significantly boosts the IAF’s Suppression of Enemy Air Defence (SEAD) operations, allowing for the neutralization of critical air defense installations deep within enemy territory.
• Force Multiplier: Acts as a force multiplier by improving the survivability and operational effectiveness of IAF aircraft conducting missions in hostile environments.
• Indigenous Development Milestone: Represents a crucial milestone in India’s defense capabilities, marking a stride towards self-reliance and indigenous development in advanced defense technologies.

Global Counterparts

• United States: AGM-88 HARM
• Russia: Kh-58
• United Kingdom: ALARM
• China: FT-2000
• Iran: Hormoz-2
• Brazil: MAR-1