The missile is propelled by a solid rocket motor, with giving it a burn-out velocity of about Mach 2.4.

It is initially inertially guided to a likely intercept point, with an all-aspect infra-red seeker taking over to handle terminal guidance.

The missile has a 9.2-kilogram fragmentation warhead triggered either by contact or a radar proximity fuze with a lethal radius of between 5 and 15 meters depending on the target type.

The Fire Control Systems vehicle consists of an Isuzu 6×6 truck with a 30 kW generator unit mounted behind the driver's cabin, and a rectangular three-dimensional pulse-doppler phased array radar.

Each launcher is equipped with an optical director than can be used instead of the radar in a high ECM environment or if the radar is not operational; additionally the vehicle can be mounted with one or two 12.7 mm calibre heavy machine guns, for self-defense in frontal forward areas against ground threats and close-in(<500 m) incoming air threats.

SAM-1C upgraded missile use a phased array active radar seeker, with the capability of receiving mid-course guidance updates from the Fire Control Systems vehicle.

Also the Fire Control Systems vehicle is fitted with a thermal imager to improve operation in an ECM heavy environment.