The Indian Army has issued a tender to state-run Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) to procure five to six regiments of the indigenously produced 'Anant Shastra' surface-to-air missile weapon systems, ANI reported, citing defence officials.
 
The system, earlier known as the Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile (QRSAM), has been developed and tested by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The project is estimated at about Rs 30,000 crore and is designed to bolster India’s air defence along the borders with Pakistan and China, the ANI report said.
 
The Army’s Air Defence (AAD) played a major role during Operation Sindoor in countering Pakistani drone attacks. At present, AAD operates systems such as MRSAM and Akash in coordination with the Indian Air Force to meet aerial threats.
 
The Defence Acquisition Council cleared the procurement proposal shortly after Operation Sindoor in May. The mobile system can search, track and engage targets on the move, has a firing range of around 30 km and is meant to complement existing MRSAM and Akash systems.
 
Officials said the missile system has gone through extensive trials under both day and night operational conditions.
 
During the four-day conflict with Pakistan, which used Chinese equipment, Army air defence units relied on L-70 and Zu-23 guns as well as Akash and MRSAM, while the Indian Air Force deployed Spyder and S-400 systems.
 
Army Air Defence is also inducting new radars, very short-range missile systems, jammers and laser-based systems to counter drones of Turkish and Chinese origin used by Pakistan, ANI reported. Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi has been pushing indigenisation and future projects include the Zorawar light tank and more indigenous air defence platforms.