• The Indian Army has issued a tender to procure five to six regiments of the ‘Anant Shastra’ air defence missile system, earlier known as Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile (QRSAM).
• Developed by DRDO and to be supplied by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) at a cost of about ₹30,000 crore, the system has a range of around 30 km and is highly mobile, capable of tracking and firing at targets during short halts, both day and night.
• Cleared by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) after Operation Sindoor in May 2025, the new systems will complement existing ones like MRSAM and Akash.
• The Army Air Defence (AAD), which already operates S-400, Spyder, Akash, L-70, and Zu-23, is being upgraded with radars, VSHORADS, jammers, and lasers to counter drones.
• The initiative aligns with the Army’s push for indigenisation, including future projects like the Zorawar light tank.