Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile (QRSAM) is designed by India’s Defence Research Development Organization (DRDO). It is a canister based system. Its storage and operations take place from specially designed compartments.

In November 2020, QRSAM achieved a major milestone during its seventh test firing. It led to the completion of the development phase. QRSAM on this test firing took a direct hit on a Banshee Pilotless target aircraft at the medium range & medium-altitude took place. It was launched from Integrated Test Range (ITR) Chandipur, Odisha. It is yet to be inducted into the Indian Army.

Learn about Surface to Air Missile (SAM) in detail for the UPSC Exam in the linked article.

This article has provided all the relevant facts about QRSAM that can be helpful for the IAS Exam (Prelims and Mains GS Science and Technology).

For more related articles, candidates can check the below-mentioned links:

Important Facts about QRSAM for UPSC

1. The QRSAM has a range of 30 km which makes it a short-range SAM; and can target an altitude of up to 10 km.
2. It is an indigenous missile system developed by DRDO. The manufacturing of the QRSAM missile weapon system elements is taken care of by:
   • Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL)
   • Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) for the Indian Army
   • Larsen & Toubro (L&T)
3. QRSAM Missile System has the following elements:
   • Battery Multifunction Radar
   • Battery Surveillance Radar
   • Battery Command Post Vehicle
   • Mobile Launcher
4. It has two four-walled radars:
   • Active Array Battery Surveillance Radar
   • Active Array Battery Multifunction Radar
5. The two radars with 360-degree coverage can search and track targets on move.
6. It has a single-stage solid propellant.
7. The missile is propelled by a single-stage solid-propellant rocket motor.
8. The latest test firing took place in November 2020 in which the following bodies participated:
   • Defence Research and Development Laboratory and Research Centre, Imarat in Hyderabad
   • Electronic and Radar Development Establishment, Bangalore
   • Research and Development Establishment (Engineers), Pune
   • Instruments Research and Development Establishment, Dehradun; and
   • Integrated Test Range, Chandipur
9. In total, there have been seven test firings of QRSAM; starting from 2017.
10. The command and control system of QRSAM are fully automated.
11. It is an all-weather missile system.
12. QRSAM is to Akash Surface to Air Missile System, and the project to develop it was sanctioned in 2014.

Use of QRSAM

The Quick Reaction SAM is designed to give air defence coverage against strike columns of the Indian Army. It can detect moving targets and also engage the targets with short halts.

It can be mounted on a truck and stored in a canister.

To be accurate and avoid jamming, the QRSAM system uses optical proximity fuze.

How to approach topics like QRSAM for UPSC?

Science and Technology makes a part of UPSC Mains General Studies-III. Defence Technology is a part of its syllabus.

For UPSC Prelims, aspirants should take note of important details of QRSAM. For instance, in 2014, there was a question on Agni Missile, which can be found below:

Q. Which reference to Agni-IV Missile, which of the following statements is/are correct? (2014)

1. It is a surface-to-surface missile.
2. It is fuelled by liquid propellant only.
3. It can deliver one-tonne nuclear warheads about 7500 km away.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1 only

2 and 3 only

1 and 3 only

1, 2 and 3

Learning from the old UPSC questions, as one given above, aspirants can focus on:

• What type of missile QRSAM is?
• How is it propelled?
• What is the distance it can travel to?
• Who has developed and designed QRSAM?

Aspirants can also check previous year Science and Technology questions of UPSC Mains GS 3.

UPSC Preparation Links: