Very clear indication of QRSAM being in user trial phase in recent testing. BEL in their concall said that confirmatory trials were done successfully & one more trial is scheduled next month. Major order expected in FY25.
DRDO QRSAM and SPYDER Air Defence Systems
- Thread starter Ashwin
- Start date
675 Derby & 675 Pythons were bought for SPYDER MR. I think it's 18 squadrons. Because that's a lot of missiles.
Based on pics released, we have the SR.
The missile numbers are not a lot. It's 1 ready-to-fire and 2 reloads and reserve.
The Perspective of the Chief of Staff of the Indian Air Force: Shaping a Way Ahead - Second Line of Defense
By Air Marshal VK Jimmy Bhatia (Retd) Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa, has confirmed that IAF has received bids from six global vendors in response to IAF’s Request for Information (RFI) for 110 modern combat jets, and that the induction of 36 Rafale jets already contracted...
sldinfo.com
Taking this interview of then Air Chief as reference we can say that we have a total of 4 Spyder Squadrons.
The Perspective of the Chief of Staff of the Indian Air Force: Shaping a Way Ahead - Second Line of Defense
By Air Marshal VK Jimmy Bhatia (Retd) Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa, has confirmed that IAF has received bids from six global vendors in response to IAF’s Request for Information (RFI) for 110 modern combat jets, and that the induction of 36 Rafale jets already contracted...
Taking this interview of then Air Chief as reference we can say that we have a total of 4 Spyder Squadrons.
We have 9 squadrons. This interview is from 2018.
QRSAM order likely in FY 2025-26 , large volume 30K crores plus. (from BEL concall today)
QRSAM and VLSRSAM overlap quite a bit in terms of role and capability. What are the odds the Army might eventually ditch the former and standardise on the VLSRSAM with the AF and Navy? The VLRSRAM offers a 50 km range over the 30km of the QRSAM, a lighter AUW (170kg vs 270 kg), probably AESA seeker too.
QRSAM = Army
VLSRSAM = Navy
These systems are developed based on service-specific requirements. You cant put QRSAM on a ship. There is no overlap.
As mentioned above. These are service specific systems.
QRSAM - Army
Akash-NG - Airforce
VL-SRSAM - Navy
They have same roots but are tailor made. We only have two tri-service missiles as of now - Brahmos and MRSAM. In future it will also include LR-LACM.
There is some chatter about tweaking VL-SRSAM for IAF as well. VL-SRSAM based on Astra 2 would be as good missile for short range quick reaction as any because of its kinematics and maneuverability alone.
Think there was a DRDO Tech Focus newsletter article that showed a GBAD truck mounted (4 round?) launcher for the VL SRSAM some time back. Not sure but the QRSAM probably has a heavier warhead and is optimized for lower alt performance compared to the VL. The Akash Mk 1/S already fills that role and the Army has always preferred lighter, more mobile, low footprint systems. In my opinion, the QRSAM is redundant.
Role of QRSAM in Army ORBAT and difference with Akash SAM.
