SAMAR 2 (a surface-to-air missile for assured retaliation) is a new air defense system that India is getting ready to test-fire. It has a range of nearly 30 km. Indian Air Force (IAF) officials associated with the project announced this on Tuesday.
One of the officials stated, “The first firing trials will take place by December.” The IAF developed the air defense system with two industry partners.
With an 8-kilometer range, the first version of the weapon system, known as SAMAR 1, has been included in the IAF. Russian-made air-to-air missiles are used in both systems. SAMAR 1 is outfitted with the R-73E, while the upcoming variant will use the R-27 missile.
At the International Defence Aviation Exposition, which was held in conjunction with the ongoing Tarang Shakti 2024 exercise—the largest multilateral air combat drills that India will host—the Indian Air Force (IAF) displayed the SAMAR 1 air defense system. Eighteen nations are observing the exercise, while ten foreign air forces are participating.
According to another official, “what is challenging here is that air-to-air missiles, which are past their shelf life and thus unsafe for aerial launch, are being used in a surface-to-air role.”
The SAMAR system is capable of destroying aerial threats such as fighter jets, helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles, according to officials.
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