Indian Defence Review

MRSAM Tests in Perspective: The MRSAM in the Layered Matrix

Having built the layered and tiered matrix of the IADS thus far, it will be easy to see the place of MRSAM as the upper-end constituent of the grid-based area air defence system. The typical range of this weapon system lies in the range of 70-100 km and altitude bracket resides between 30m–20km.

Development of the MRSAM Case

• Way back in the late nineties and as a part of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) of the DRDO, the Akash was initially seen as the future MRSAM to replace the 1970’s vintage, Kvadrat SAM system (SAM-6) of the Army AD.
• Since at that point in time, Akash development was facing glitches with associated time and cost overruns, a separate case for the MRSAM for the Army commenced in 2004, which later became bi-service with Indian Air Force (IAF) also joining. The case was moved on a Joint QR (JSQR).
• The above procurement case did not make much headway due to multiple issues including the QR while the critical operational voids remained unaddressed.
• When the above was unfolding, the DRDO in 2006, entered into a contract with IAI of Israel to jointly develop a Long Range SAM (LRSAM) for the Indian Navy (R – 500m-100km, A 0-16 km). (Quantum of Missiles and number of ships not quoted).8
• The above said MRSAM procurement case for the Army and the IAF did not make headway. The Request For Proposal (RFP) issued by the Army in 2008 to five Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), namely, Thales, MBDA, Raytheon, ROE and Rafael had to be withdrawn in 2009 due to single vendor situation.
• As time passed, first the IAF, then the Army got aligned for their MRSAM requirements on the DRDO-IAI arrangement, then in progress for the Navy’s LRSAM.
• The contract for the MRSAM for the IAF was signed in 2009, while for the Army, it is in the pipeline for signing in the near future.
• Currently, the DRDO-IAI Project is suffering time and cost overruns, in that the Naval LRSAMs were to be delivered by 2012, which has still not happened. A delay of four to six years is expected. Also, the IAF procurement is behind schedule by three to four years.

The following points are noteworthy:-

• MRSAM per se, as the upper-end constituent of the layered and tiered IADS has remained a void ever since the concept has evolved. Consequently, the critical operational voids requiring MRSAM cover have remained unaddressed over the years.
• The above voids got revised and updated by the Joint Services Study Group on GBADWS in 2009.
• With the continuous revamping of the air threat, the need to cover these voids on our Northern and Western Borders has been increasing with passage of time.
• Testing of Naval LRSAM version started from May 2010. Glitches in various parameters of LRSAM performance have been noticed from time to time. These are continuously been addressed in successive firing trials that have taken place in 2015 on November 10, November 26 and December 29.9

A Word about the SAMs

Naval LRSAM

• The Naval LRSAM is actually Barak-8 SAM in the inventory of IAI SAMs. Barak means ‘lightning’ in Hebrew. It has a two-stage smokeless, dual-pulsed rocket motor. The first motor propels the missiles up to the terminal phase when the second motor fires giving extra thrust in the kill game.
• The missile has an active RF/IIR seeker for the end game providing it independence from ground radar illumination, as well as precision in the end-game.
• It has thrust vector control providing it high manoeuverability and control during target interception.
• The phased array Multi-Function Surveillance and Threat Assessment Radar (EL/M-2248 MFSTAR) provides 360-degree coverage on a two-way datalink on S band.
• The missile is capable of simultaneously engaging multiple targets during saturation attacks.

MRSAM

• As opposed to LRSAM, the MRSAM has a range of 70 km.
• While the base characteristics of the system are the same, the RF seeker is reported to be of a generation higher.
• Besides the above, the configuration of the system is suited to surface deployment in the field.

The Tests

• Three consecutive launches of the MRSAM took place from ITR; two on June 30, 2016, and one on July 01, 2016.
• The target (Meggit BTT-3 Banshee PTA) is a manoeuvring air-breathing target which roughly mimics a basic combat aircraft on the attack line.
• All the three tests were successful as targets were destroyed in direct hits at various altitudes and ranges.

On Significance of the Tests

The significance of the above tests analysed from the overall perspective of the current state of Ground Based Air Defence is as under:

• The current high rate of obsolescence of the GBADWS is well known (97+%). Concerted efforts are in hand to address the same by following a twin-track approach.
• On the first track is an endeavour to sustain a nearly obsolete and a high vintage inventory wherein in most cases, the production lines by the OEMs have long closed down and the spares support has since dried up. Notable actions are the state-of-the-art up gradation of the mainstay guns (L 70 and ZU23) and the only existing AD (SP) Schilka weapon system. Besides upgrading a part of existing guns, a “Buy and Make Indian” case for the successor of current AD guns is also progressing. This is at RFP stage.
• In addition to the above, a series of inductions in the top-of-the-line sensors have since taken place. These include the Low Level Light Weight Radar (LLLWR) for high altitudes and mountainous areas and the 3D Tactical Control Radar as Early Warning and Tactical Control Radar. Also, indigenous efforts are on to provide a degree of automation to the ADBMC2 system and integrate the same across service boundaries.
• While the efforts on the first track are progressing at some pace, the ones on the second track which involve modernisation through the induction of state-of-the-art GBADWS, is suffering inordinate delays:

1. The current VSHORAD case which started in October 2010, has been through repeated trials and re-trials. It is hoped that it reaches its finality now as the weapon system is critically needed for that very essential gun-missile mix at the terminal end. The open source information of imposing a delay in S-400 procurement for the higher priority VSHORAD (and others) is a welcome step.
2. On the SRSAM front while the commencement of induction of Akash has been a most significant development promising a quantum jump in times to come, the SRSAM Global case with RFP in December 2011, needs to be quickly moved towards its fructification given the fact that the complete sequence of trials abroad has been completed. In this context, the decision of the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) on June 25, 2016, endorsing the multi-vendor procurement is significant.
3. Similarly, the QRSAM case needs to move on two fronts. Firstly, the “Buy Global” case which started with the RFP in January 2013, must now be finalised given the fact that the trials abroad of the competing OEMs have since been completed.
4. More importantly, all efforts must be put to get the indigenous product realised. The confidence shown by Director – R&D, BEL, Dr Kalaghatgi of realising the system in two years is welcome. Similarly, the ADGM (SP) case for close-in protection of mechanised VAs/VPs needs to be progressed. The case with the RFP in February 2013 has only reached the trials stage.

For MRSAM, the following points apply:

• The MRSAM is the inescapable constituent of the layered and tiered matrix of the IADS.
• The voids addressable by such an area air defence weapon system have remained unaddressed since 2004-2005.
• The existing SAM-6 inventory of the Kvadrat Weapon System is well past its obsolescence. While that said, it is a professional tribute to the air defence warriors (and maintainers alike) to keep the weapon system operationally alive and ticking till date and achieving the designed SSKP and more, in firings year-on-year. What is true of Kvadrat is also true of the OSA-AK and Strela Weapon System held by the Army AD.
• The above notwithstanding, the IAF’s MRSAM case has already been delayed by three to four years. The Army, in any case, would look for the quick realisation of its MRSAM post contract on a parallel delivery line alongside the IAF’s MRSAM and Navy’s LRSAM.
• While the LRSAM tests are in progress since December 2010, MRSAM has had a first firing run on June 30-01 July 2016.

That the above tests have been a hat-trick of success indeed shows that there is light at the end of the tunnel for the air defence warriors in their unenviable quest to resuscitate and keep alive a vintage and obsolete inventory besides taking concrete steps to modernise the force through induction of state-of-the-art weapon systems. That is the significance of the MRSAM tests!