Building on the success of air defence operations during Operation Sindoor, the Indian Army has issued a tender for the procurement of a Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile (QRSAM) system, codenamed ‘Anant Shastra’.
A fresh Request for Proposal (RFP) has been issued to Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) for buying the indigenised surface to air missile weapon.
The air defence missile system, Anant Shastra, is developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The entire cost of the project is estimated around Rs 30,000 crore.
The mobile missile platform is intended to shield Army formations from an evolving range of aerial dangers, including hostile aircraft, helicopters, drone swarms, and loitering weapons. Its deployment is planned along India’s northern and western frontiers.
At present, the Corps of Army Air Defence (AAD) operates systems such as the MR-SAM, Akash, and other short-range platforms, working in close coordination with the Indian Air Force to counter aerial threats in an integrated manner.
Officials stated that, unlike fixed air defence systems, Anant Shastra is mounted on 8×8 high-mobility platforms, allowing it to advance alongside armoured columns, infantry fighting vehicles, and artillery units across varied terrains such as deserts, plains, and high-altitude regions.
The system can engage aerial targets within a range of 30 km and at altitudes of 10–14 km, supported by 360-degree active array radars, a fully automated command-and-control setup, and the capability to launch missiles while on the move.