Article Posted on : - May 02, 2010

A File photo of a short-range surface to air missile.

NEW DELHI (PTI): The army is planning to procure a short-range surface to air missile (SRSAM) system to counter threats to cities and important installations in the country from enemy aircraft and missiles.

"We are planning to induct the 20 km-range SRSAM systems to strengthen our air defence capabilities to provide cover from aerial threats to our important bases and installations," army officials told PTI here.

The procurement process was recently initiated with the release of a Request for Information (RFI) in this regard.

According to the RFI, the army wants a missile system that can be transported on both rail and road mobile launchers in all possible terrains in the country.

The missile should also be able to target objects moving at speeds between zero to 500 meters per second including hovering targets such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), fighter and surveillance aircraft and helicopters.

The army wants the new missile system to be capable of operating in both day and night conditions and takes on targets in the dark also.

In the recent past, the army has taken up several projects to do away with the night-blindness of its existing fleet of tanks and Infantry Combat Vehicles.

As per the RFI, radar of the SRSAM system should be capable of tracking a number of targets simultaneously and should have Electronic Counter Counter-Measures (ECCM) to be able to support the electronic warfare environment.

The RFI states that the system should be capable of operating in Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) warfare environment.