DefenceWednesday, 3 June 2026·The Hindu
DRDO-IAF RudraM-II flight test strengthens indigenous air-to-surface missile capability
DRDO and IAF successfully flight-tested the indigenous RudraM-II missile, with Chandipur tracking confirming mission success.
Key highlights
Direct fact
In June 2026, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully flight-tested the indigenous RudraM-II air-to-surface missile from an airborne platform, with the trials monitored by the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur.
Key specifics
- RudraM-II was tested under extreme release conditions to validate critical subsystems and flight parameters.
- The missile accurately engaged a predefined target and met all mission objectives, according to officials.
- Data from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur confirmed the missile’s trajectory and performance.
- The programme was developed by Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad, with support from DRDL, HEMRL, ARDE and ITR.
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the test marked a major step towards Aatmanirbharta in advanced weapon systems.
Exam lens
TNPSC defence current affairs, DRDO-IAF collaboration, RudraM-II, Chandipur, Aatmanirbharta; a likely one-liner is: “Which indigenous missile was flight-tested successfully by DRDO and IAF in 2026?”