RudraM-I – UPSC Prelims

RudraM-I

  • RudraM-I is an anti-radiation missile which can locate and target any radiation-emitting source like enemy radars, communication sites and other Radio Frequency (RF) emitting targets.
  • It is being developed by Defence Research Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad, as the nodal agency.
  • This is the first indigenous anti-radiation missile of the country. It has a range of up to 200 km depending upon the launch conditions.
  • It can be launched from altitudes of 500 m to 15 km and speeds of 0.6 to 2 mach.
  • It can play a key role in neutralizing any jamming platforms of the enemy or take out radar stations thereby clearing a path for own fighters to carry out an offensive and also prevent own systems from being jammed.

How does it work?

  • Anti-radiation missiles are designed to detect, track and neutralize the adversary’s radar, communication assets and other radio frequency sources, which are generally part of their air defence systems.
  • Such a missile’s navigation mechanism comprises an inertial navigation system — a computerised mechanism that uses changes in the object’s own position — coupled with GPS, which is satellite-based.
  • For guidance, it has a “passive homing head” — a system that can detect, classify and engage targets (radio frequency sources in this case) over a wide band of frequencies as programmed.
  • Once the RudraM missile locks on the target, it is capable of striking accurately even if the radiation source switches off in between.
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