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

News-CRUX-10     4th July 2024        
QEP Pocket Notes

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
QEP Pocket Notes