TRISHUL
Origin--India
Type---Surface to Air Missile

Technical Specification

Propulsion : two-stage solid propellant system
Range : 9 km
Payload : varies
Warhead : 5.5 kg HE-fragmented

The Trishul (Trident) is a short range, quick reaction, all weather surface-to-air missile designed to counter low-level attacks. It has been flight tested in the sea-skimming role and also against moving targets. The Missile has a range of 9 km and is fitted with a 5.5 kg HE-fragmented warhead. It can detect a target and accordingly destroy it, all within 6 seconds. With its radar, the Trishul can engage targets ranging from aircraft and helicopters, flying between 300 miles per sec to 500 miles per sec.

As a result of its unique guidance system, the enemy cannot jam the missile easily. The Trishul is constructed of a special kind of steel to withstand any kind of physical stress. Trial flights of the Trishul, against balloons and Pilot-less Target Aircraft (PTA) targets have been successfully carried out.

The Trishul Combat Vehicle has been developed specially for the army. It can house all the equipment including the radars, the command-guidance system and the missiles. India is working hard to develop the naval variant of the Trishul. The naval variant of the missile has a sea- skimming capability. Its launcher and surveillance radar have been fully tested, and the fire-control system is under final evaluation. With the Trishul SAM, the Indian Navy will get is first 'anti-missile' missile capability.