Rudram is India’s first indigenous family of air-launched anti-radiation missiles, developed by DRDO to detect, track and destroy enemy radar, communication and other radio-frequency-emitting systems, giving the Indian Air Force a Suppression/Destruction of Enemy Air Defences (SEAD/DEAD) capability.[1]
Rudram-1, India’s first indigenous anti-radiation missile, is equipped with a passive homing head enabling it to detect and track a wide band of hostile radio-frequency emissions — including radar and communication systems — without requiring pre-mission target-frequency data. It has a strike range of roughly 100–250 km depending on launch altitude and speed, and has been integrated on the Su-30MKI as its initial launch platform.[2][3]
Rudram-2 is a further-developed air-to-surface variant with an extended strike range of approximately 300 km, allowing fighter crews to engage hostile radar installations from a substantially safer standoff distance. It is a solid-propelled missile capable of hypersonic terminal speeds up to around Mach 5.5. As of 2026, Rudram-2 was reported to be in final validation trials, with full production anticipated by 2027.[4]
Rudram-3 is a further-extended-range air-to-ground derivative in the family, reported with a strike range of approximately 550 km, extending the Rudram concept from a pure anti-radiation weapon toward a broader long-range precision-strike role against fixed high-value ground targets.[4]
| Type | Air-launched anti-radiation / precision-strike missile family |
| Developer | DRDO |
| Rudram-1 range | 100–250 km |
| Rudram-1 seeker | Passive homing head (broadband RF) |
| Rudram-2 range | ~300 km |
| Rudram-2 speed | Up to ~Mach 5.5 |
| Rudram-3 range | ~550 km |
| Launch platform | Su-30MKI (initial); planned wider IAF fast-jet integration |
| Status (2026) | Rudram-1 operational; Rudram-2 in final trials (production ~2027); Rudram-3 in development |