India successfully test fires first indigenously developed anti-radiation missile Rudram-1

India on Friday successfully tested a new air-to-ground missile capable of destroying enemy radar and other communication equipment providing tactical advantage to the armed forces in a conflict.

A Su-30 MKI fighter jet of the Indian Air Force fired the missile named Rudram, which destroyed a target on Wheeler Island off the coast of Odisha. This is the first such indigenous missile developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation.

The missile has been integrated with a Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft, which would be used as a launch platform because of its ability to fire from varying ranges based on launch conditions.

An anti-radiation missile is of immense advantage in an air raid because by destroying the radar sources it minimises the possibility of a counter strike by the enemy on the combat jets. This can also be used to quickly shut down unexpected surface-to-air missile sites.

An official said the missile with a speed of Mach 2 or twice the speed of sound was capable of bringing down a wide-range of enemy radars, communication networks and air defence systems within a range of up to 250 km.

In a statement, the defence ministry said Rudram hit the radiation target with "pinpoint accuracy" and that the test established India's capability to develop long-range air-launched anti-radiation missiles.

The missile carries a passive homing head that can detect, classify and engage targets over a wide band of frequencies. Once inducted, it would be a potent weapon for IAF to suppress enemy air defence effectively from large stand-off ranges.

“With this, the country has established indigenous capability to develop long-range air-launched anti-radiation missiles for neutralising enemy Radars, communication sites and other radio-frequency emitting targets,” said the defence ministry statement.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the DRDO on the successful test-firing of the missile, calling it a "remarkable achievement".