NEW DELHI — India's Air Force has raised objections to the indigenous new generation anti-radiation missile (NGARM) currently in development.
The future of India's homegrown new generation anti-radiation missile (NGRAM) is likely to face a major roadblock following serious objections by its user, the Indian Air Force (IAF) over its capabilities
The 60-kilometer-range NGARM, developed by state-owned Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), will undertake flight trials in three months but Indian Air Force (IAF) officials say the missile is too bulky.
DRDO is developing NGARM for the service's Mirage-2000H, Jaguar, Su-30 MKI and the upcoming Light Combat Aircraft.
"NGARM being developed by DRDO weighs around 140 kilograms and is too heavy, whereas IAF wants only such missiles that do not weigh over 100 kilograms; this one will not meet our requirement," said a senior Air Force official.
"DRDO has never kept us in the loop about this missile, and we are not sure if we will at all use it," the IAF official said, adding, "infrared radiation seeker technology from Russia will make it too bulky."
However, one DRDO scientist said the missile should meet all Air Force fighter requirements: "We will make sure it is proven successful."
He claimed that NGARM is largely an indigenous missile. But one DRDO source said the agency could not develop the missile on its own and that DRDO has sought help from Russia for seeker technology.
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