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In a symbolic gesture, the indigenous Long Range Surface to Air Missile (LRSAM) was handed over to the Indian Navy by Minister for Defence, Finance and Corporate Affairs Arun Jaitley, at Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), Kanchanbagh here on Sunday.

LRSAM is an advanced combat suit for missile defence against air targets, missiles and includes air & surface surveillance, threat alert and fire control.

LRSAM is a DRDO-IAI (Defence Research & Development Organization - Israeli Aircraft Industries) Joint Development Contract with defined work-share. BDL is the Missile Production Agency to deliver and support the Indian Armed Forces in country’s Defence preparedness. The missile is same for Tri Services viz., Navy, Air Force and Army.

State-of-the-art and first of its kind for a Defence production unit, the Rocket Motor Static Test Facility was dedicated to the Nation by Arun Jaitley, at BDL’s Ibrahimpatnam Complex. An amount of Rs 48 Crores has been spent on this facility.

The 50 Ton Rocket Motor Test facility for Surface to Air Missile (SAM) class of missiles will support the design and vendor development activities needed for the production of missiles. These efforts were hitherto shouldered by DRDO as the development agency.

BDL is now equipped to take the responsibility on its own which has been actively guided for realization and establishment by DRDO. The test bed is capable of withstanding a load of 50000 Kg (50T) and explosive limit of 1000kg with H.D 1.1 category. All kinds of SAM motors can be tested.

At BDL, Bhanur Unit, Arun Jaitley, inaugurated the ASTRA Manufacturing Facility. Astra weapon system is an indigenously developed Air-to-Air beyond Visual Range (BVR) missile developed by DRDO.

It comprises of Astra Launcher and Astra Missile. It is designed as a BVR missile with a range of 110 Km in head-on mode and 20 Km in tail-chase mode. BVR missiles are the latest in the air to air combat. BDL has been designated as the lead integrator by DRDO.