![](https://bharatshakti.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/LT-BSI-Defence.gif")
In a significant move to strengthen India’s air defence capabilities along the Pakistan border, the Ministry of Defence is all set to approve the acquisition of three new regiments of the indigenous Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile (QRSAM) systems for the Indian Army. According to senior defence officials, the proposal is expected to be taken up at the upcoming Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) meeting slated for the last week of this month.
Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the QRSAM is a highly mobile system designed to detect, track, and engage aerial targets while on the move or at short halts. The new regiments are intended for deployment along both the western and northern borders, significantly enhancing the Army’s ability to respond to rapidly emerging air threats in forward areas.
With an operational range of approximately 30 kilometres, QRSAM is tailored to complement existing short-to-medium-range air defence assets like the Akash and Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM) systems already in service with the Indian Army and Air Force.
The push for new QRSAM regiments follows the success of Operation Sindoor, during which Indian air defence units—across the Army and Air Force—effectively neutralized multiple aerial threats, including aircraft, missiles, and drones launched from across the border.
During the four-day cross-border engagement, Army Air Defence units employed L-70 and Zu-23 guns in combination with Akash and MRSAM systems, while the Indian Air Force deployed Spider and Sudarshan S-400 platforms to thwart incoming threats. The QRSAM, which has undergone extensive trials, proved its reliability in both day and night operations under varied battlefield conditions.
Beyond the QRSAM procurement, the Army’s Air Defence Corps is also ramping up its capabilities through the induction of advanced radars, very short-range air defence (VSHORAD) systems, electronic jammers, and emerging laser-based technologies—aimed particularly at countering new-age threats such as drones of Turkish and Chinese origin.
Team BharatShakti
Dr Ravi Shankar has over two decades of experience in communications, print journalism, electronic media, documentary film making and new media.
He makes regular appearances on national television news channels as a commentator and analyst on current and political affairs. Apart from being an acknowledged Journalist, he has been a passionate newsroom manager bringing a wide range of journalistic experience from past associations with India’s leading media conglomerates (Times of India group and India Today group) and had led global news-gathering operations at world’s biggest multimedia news agency- ANI-Reuters. He has covered Parliament extensively over the past several years. Widely traveled, he has covered several summits as part of media delegation accompanying the Indian President, Vice President, Prime Minister, External Affairs Minister and Finance Minister across Asia, Africa and Europe.
