Source: TOI
Context: India escalated its military preparedness with the Indian Navy testing a surface-to-air missile from INS Surat and the Indian Air Force conducting ‘Exercise Aakraman’ featuring Rafale jets in a full-spectrum combat drill.
About INS Surat:
- Type: INS Surat is a Visakhapatnam-class stealth-guided missile destroyer under Project 15B.
- Built in: Developed indigenously by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd., Mumbai.
- Objective: To enhance India’s maritime strike capability and coastal defence preparedness.
- Features of INS Surat:
- Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missiles (MRSAM): Capable of intercepting aerial threats up to ~70 km away.
- BrahMos Cruise Missiles: Equipped with supersonic missiles for long-range precision strikes.
- Advanced Radar & Combat Systems: Features modern multi-function radar for target tracking and engagement.
- Stealth Design: Reduced radar cross-section to evade enemy surveillance and detection.
- Functions of INS Surat:
- Sea-Skimming Target Interception: Destroys low-flying hostile projectiles and drones over water.
- Coastal Surveillance: Conducts continuous maritime monitoring for security and threat detection.
- Fleet Protection: Provides layered defense for naval task forces against air and missile attacks.
- Offensive Strike Operations: Engages enemy naval assets and coastal installations with cruise missiles.
About Exercise Aakraman:
- What it is: A full-spectrum operational readiness drill by the Indian Air Force (IAF).
- Held at: Central sector, across diverse terrain including plains and mountains.
- Conducted by: Indian Air Force involving its Rafale fighter squadrons from Ambala and Hashimara bases.
- Objective: To test precision strike capabilities, evaluate combat readiness, and simulate high-intensity wartime operations with advanced munitions like Meteor, Rampage, and Rocks missiles.
