India’s first successful test-fire of the indigenous anti-radiation missile, Rudram-1, and integration with the Indian Air Force (IAF) Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jets, represents a major leap forward in India’s defence capabilities.

Rudram, meaning ‘Remover of Sorrows’, is a series of advanced anti-radiation missiles (ARMs) -- a type of weapon designed to detect and target such sources of radio waves as enemy radar and communication systems and destroy them, thus helping disrupt enemy defences and improve the effectiveness of other military operations.

These missiles are being developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the IAF and can travel at supersonic and hypersonic speeds. They are designed for air-to-surface attacks and are particularly effective at targeting and destroying enemy radars, communication hubs and bunkers. The Rudram can be launched from various altitudes and from a safe distance, enabling them to strike critical enemy installations without putting the launch platform at risk.

Rudram-1: Notable Characteristics

Rudram-1, also known as a New-Generation Anti-Radiation Missile (NGARM), is the first missile in this series to be fully developed. It can be launched from altitudes ranging from 500 metres to 15 kilometres and has a maximum range of 200 kilometres. The missile weighs about 600 kilograms and carries a 60-kilogram warhead. Currently, the primary aircraft for deploying the Rudram-1 is the Sukhoi Su-30MKI. In future, it will also be adapted for use with other fighter jets in the IAF.

The missile is equipped with INS-GPS for navigation and uses a passive homing head (PHH) for the final strike, enabling it to precisely target sources of radiation. A PHH is a guidance system in a missile that detects, and follows, signals emitted by a target, such as enemy ground-based radars or communication systems and command centres, without emitting signals itself, making it harder for the enemy to detect the missile before impact.

This accuracy is vital for Suppression of Enemy Air Defence (SEAD) missions, which aim to disable or destroy enemy air defence systems, such as radar and missile sites, to ensure safe operations for friendly aircraft from a safe distance.

Rudram-2: Air-to-Ground Weapon

It is the second missile in the DRDO’s ARM family. This hypersonic missile is being developed as an air-to-ground weapon. It will use a solid rocket motor for propulsion and have a range of 50-300 kilometres. With a top speed of Mach 5.5 (around 6,800 km/h), it is incredibly fast.

Rudram-2 will come in two versions: One for anti-radiation missions to target enemy radar systems and another for ground attack purposes. The missile can be launched from altitudes between 3 kilometres and 15 kilometres to destroy enemy radar positions, carrying a payload of up to 200 kilograms. Rudram-2’s capabilities are more advance because of the addition of an imaging infrared (IIR) system.

An IIR system uses infrared technology to create detailed images of targets based on their heat signatures, allowing missiles to accurately identify and lock onto targets, even in low visibility conditions, such as at night or through smoke. With both the IIR and PHH systems working together, Rudram-2 can effectively attack enemy bunkers, air bases, ammunition depots, aircraft hangars and other targets, in addition to hitting ‘radiation-emitting targets’.

On May 29, 2024, DRDO had successfully flight-tested the Rudram-2 missile from an IAF Su-30 MKI aircraft off the coast of Odisha. Once fully developed, this missile will significantly enhance the IAF’s capabilities.

Rudram-3: Two-stage missile

The Rudram-3 is the third and most powerful missile in this series. This missile will be a two-stage one like the Russian Kinzhal. The first stage will act as a booster, while the second stage will feature a dual-pulse motor. The missile will weigh approximately 600-700 kilograms and carry a 200-kilogram warhead with a range of 550 kilometres.

The missile features 16 control surfaces, making it very agile. There are 8 control surfaces in the middle and another 8 at the rear, making it highly maneuverable. Control surfaces on a missile are movable parts that help guide and stabilize the missile’s flight. These can include:

* Fins: Often found at the rear, they help control direction and stability

* Canards: These are smaller wings located towards the front or middle section, aiding in maneuverability

* Elevons: Combined elevators and ailerons, they control pitch and roll

The fixed wing in the middle of the missile helps it reach hypersonic speeds. For navigation, the missile uses a combination of INS GPS satellite guidance and Inertial Navigation to stay on course, with an accuracy of about 4 metres. The missile will travel along a semi-ballistic path and strike its target at hypersonic speeds.

The Rudram-3 missile will be faster and carry a larger warhead than the air-launched BrahMos missile. These missiles can effectively destroy Pakistan and China’s surface-to-air missile defence systems along the borders, all the while staying within Indian territory. The Rudram-3 will significantly enhance the IAF’s ability to carry out deep-penetration strikes.

The author of this article is a Defence, Aerospace & Political Analyst based in Bengaluru