By NISHTHA ANUSHREE

The SAMAR (Surface-to-Air Missile for Assured Retaliation) air defence missile system was fired (watch here) at the Vayushakti Exercise for the first time in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer on Saturday (17 February).

SAMAR is developed in-house by the units of the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) Maintenance Command. It was conceived using outdated Russian-origin air-to-air missile systems.

Operating at speeds ranging from 2 to 2.5 Mach, the system features a twin-turret launch platform capable of launching two missiles in single and salvo modes, depending on the threat scenario.

Its test firings were conducted successfully in December last year. It was was then subjected to firing trials during the Astrashakti-2023 exercise at Air Force Station Suryalanka.