India successfully test-fired an air-to-surface anti-radiation missile from a Su-30MKI fighter jet. The Rudram-II, a supersonic missile developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), met all trial objectives during the flight test, validating its propulsion system as well as its control and guidance algorithms. The Rudram missile is India's first domestically developed anti-radiation missile, designed to target enemy ground radars and communication stations during Suppression of Enemy Air Defence (SEAD) missions. 

The Rudram-II is the latest iteration following the successful testing of the Mark-1 version four years ago, also from a Su-30MKI, which is a cornerstone of India's fighter fleet. The Rudram-II is an indigenously developed, solid-propelled, air-launched missile system designed to neutralise various enemy assets. India currently uses the Russian Kh-31 anti-radiation missile, which the Rudram missiles are set to replace. 

"The performance of the Rudram-II missile has been validated from the flight data captured by range tracking instruments such as electro-optical systems, radar, and telemetry stations deployed by the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur at various locations, including an on-board ship," according to a statement. 

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO, the Indian Air Force (IAF), and the industry on the successful test flight of the Rudram-II. He stated that this successful test has solidified the Rudram-II system's role as a force multiplier for the Armed Forces. 

The missile can be launched from a range of altitudes and can pick up enemy radio frequencies and signals from radars from a range of over 100 km. The missile can operate in Lock-On-Before/After-Launch systems. The internal guidance system of the missile allows it to direct itself toward the target after the launch. 

The Rudram-I version was test-fired from a Sukhoi aircraft in 2020 off the east coast of Odisha. This version features two types of seekers: a passive homing head seeker, which can detect and classify targets across a range of radio frequencies, and a Millimetre Wave (MMW) seeker, which allows the missile to operate effectively in various weather conditions. 

The Mark-1 version has a range of 100-150 km and can achieve speeds up to Mach 2 (twice the speed of sound). It can be launched from altitudes ranging between 1 km and 15 km. In 2022, the Indian Air Force proposed acquiring the Next Generation Anti-Radiation Missile (NGARM) in a deal worth ₹1,400 crore. Reports indicate that this missile can be launched from the Mirage 2000 multirole fighter aircraft. Adani Defence has partnered with DRDO to mass-produce the Rudram-I missile. 

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