By Anantha Krishnan M
Bengaluru: India’s maiden attempt to develop a New Generation Anti-Radiation Missile (NGARM) has finally picked up momentum. The scientists with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) are warming up to undertake the pending trials of this state-of-the-art missile without further delays. Its user -- the Indian Air Force (IAF) -- feels that the DRDO must fast-track the project.
The missile will now be heading for a series of carriage and release flight trials. The carriage flight trials will be conducted to evaluate the performance of seekers against a wide range of targets. Subsequently, release flight missions will be planned to demonstrate the mid-course guidance and terminal guidance using seekers.
Scientists tracking NGARM flightpath confirm that the next flight will be a ‘seeker performance evaluation’ one. A desi passive seeker will be onboard the missile during the next trial, while the test after that will have an active seeker as well.
Trials of NGARM with both seekers together should be in July or August this year.
Plans are also afoot to develop future variants of NGARM. It would mean upgrades with higher versions of software with the capability to handle larger variety of targets under various operational scenarios.
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