New Delhi: In a major enhancement of its capabilities, India on Tuesday (April 23) successfully performed a check firing of a new version of an air-launched medium-range ballistic missile succesful of placing targets at distances exceeding 250 km. The missile examined by the Indian Air Force within the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is the Israeli-origin Crystal Maze 2 air-launched ballistic missile, also called ROCKS.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the check firing was performed below the aegis of the strategic forces command. “A successful launch of the new variant of a medium-range ballistic missile was carried out under the aegis of the Strategic Forces Command on April 23. The user launch has proven the operational capability of the Command and validated new technologies,” the ministry mentioned in a quick assertion.
Missile was test-fired by a Su-30 MKI fighter jet
Senior sources within the nationwide safety institution advised the information company ANI that the missile was successfully test-fired by a Su-30 MKI fighter jet at a check vary within the island’s territory within the Andamans. The preparations for the check firing have been performed within the space falling below the tri-services Andaman and Nicobar Command, presently overseen by an Air Force officer.
The Indian Air Force is now planning to get Israeli missiles in important portions by means of the Make in India initiative, because it gives a singular functionality. The missile, which was fired from a Su-30 fighter by the IAF, travels upwards after which strikes in direction of its goal at excessive speeds.
Crystal Maze 2
The Crystal Maze 2 is totally different from the beforehand inducted Crystal Maze 1 within the Indian Air Force, originating from Israel.
The Crystal Maze 2 is an prolonged stand-off vary air-to-surface missile and is deliberate for use by the IAF to strike high-value stationary and relocatable targets just like the long-range radars and air defence techniques of Indian adversaries.
This missile is claimed to be efficient in GPS-denied environments, similar to these encountered throughout the Kargil War, and is succesful of neutralizing targets even in areas defended by air protection techniques.
(With ANI inputs)
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