India test-fires two Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air missiles amid hostility with Pakistan

NEW DELHI - Amid rising hostility with Pakistan, India 'successfully' test-fired two indigenously developed Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air missiles from a test range off the Odisha coast on Tuesday, Indian defence officials confirmed.

According to Indian paper The Hindu, the two missiles were tested for different altitude and conditions and test flights successfully demonstrated robust control, aerodynamics, propulsion, structural performance and high manoeuvring capabilities.

Sources privy to the developments said the trials were conducted by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) from Launch Complex 3 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur.

“Radars, Electro Optical Systems, Telemetry and other stations have tracked the Missiles and monitored through the entire flights. All the mission objectives have been met,” a statement said.

Smt @nsitharaman congratulates @DRDO_India and the Defence Industry for successful test-firing of two indigenously-developed Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missiles(QRSAM). The missile have radars with search on move capability. The project was sanctioned by the govt in July 2014. pic.twitter.com/qZIjirM9FQ

— रक्षा मंत्री कार्यालय/ RMO India (@DefenceMinIndia) February 26, 2019

The test came after the Indian Air Force (IAF) violated Pakistani airspace near the Line of Control (LoC) before being whisked away by Pakistan Air Force (PAF) fighter jets which escalated the tension between the nuclear-armed neighbours.

Indian Air Force also claimed to have targeted the alleged Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorist camp though Pakistan denies any such camp in the area.

The alleged strikes – which are still to be verified – have escalated tension between the two arch-rivals as Pakistan’s armed forces have announced that Pakistan will respond against Indian aggression in a befitting and surprising manner.

What is National Command Authority, and why PM Imran has called its meeting after Indian incursion into Pakistan?

Earlier today, Prime Minister Imran Khan convened a meeting of the National Security Committee in the aftermath of surgical strike reports and made it clear that Pakistan will respond to Indian aggression at time and place of its choosing.

The NSC meeting, chaired by the premier in the wake of India’s violation of the Line of Control (LoC), was attended by the top civil and military leadership, including Army Chief General Qamar Jawed Bajwa and ministers of defence and foreign affairs.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan has also convened a meeting of National Command Authority (NCA) which deals with nuclear arsenals and their use.