GS III
Context: Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Navy successfully flight tested the indigenously developed Vertical Launch Short Range Surface-to-Air Missile (VL-SRSAM) from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur off the coast of Odisha.
The VL-SRSAM system has been designed to strike high-speed airborne targets at the range of 40 to 50 km and at an altitude of around 15 km.
Features of VL-SRSAM
Two key features of the VL-SRSAM are cruciform wings and thrust vectoring. The cruciform wings are four small wings arranged like a cross on four sides and give the projective a stable aerodynamic posture.
Thrust vectoring is an ability to change the direction of the thrust from its engine to control the angular velocity and the attitude of the missile,
VL-SRSAM is a canisterised system, which means it is stored and operated from specially designed compartments.
