The Indian Air Force (IAF) is preparing for serial production and deployment of the SAMAR-1 anti-aircraft missile complex, designed for the R-73E missiles with infrared guidance.
The first batch of five such SAM systems is already ready to be delivered to one of the combat units of the Indian Air Force, while the IAF expects further orders for the SAMAR-1. This became known during the Aero India 2023 exhibition in Bangalore, which will last from February 13 to 17, as Janes reports.
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It is noted that the developers of the SAMAR-1 are the 7th and 11th repair bases of the Indian Air Force (BRD) as well as India’s private defense enterprises Simran Flowtech Industries and Yamazuki Denki.
The first presentation of the SAMAR-1 took place back in March 2021, when this SAM system was based on the six-axle ZyL-131 chassis. During the DefExpo 2022 exhibition, a new version was presented on the local Ashok Leyland Stallion 4×4 chassis. It is claimed that the Indian military conducted 17 launches with the SAMAR-1 during tests before adopting.
The SAMAR-1 has two R-73 launchers and an optical-electronic guidance station, the declared firing range is up to 10-12 km. The target height is not revealed, only it is indicated that "hitting targets at low altitude".
The similar in design is the SAMAR-2 SAM system, designed for firing R-27ET missiles with infrared guidance. The declared firing range is up to 20 km (although when shit in "air-to-air" format, the R-27ET launch range is up to 90 km). The 8-axle Tatra T815 vehicle is used as the chassis that houses a launcher for two missiles, fire control equipment and a generator. The APU-470M is used as a guide. Plans to put SAMAR-2 into service with the Indian Air Force are still unknown.
According to open sources, the IAF has purchased about 4,700 R-73 missiles and several hundred R-27 missiles since 1987, which will apparently now be used as ammunition for the SAMAR systems. Air defense systems of this type will close the niche of short-range air defense equipment for the Indian Air Force, and at the same time will be a way to "attach" a stock of old Soviet missiles.
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