NASM-SR (Naval Anti-Ship Missile Short Range)
Context:
Recently, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Navy successfully conducted the first salvo test-launch of the indigenously developed Naval Anti-Ship Missile Short Range (NASM-SR) from a helicopter off the Odisha coast.
Features and Specifications:
Designed by the DRDO and manufactured by private sector partners (including MSMEs and start-ups), the NASM-SR is meant to be deployed from ship-borne helicopters to safely engage hostile vessels during naval warfare and sea control missions.
It is designed to upgrade and replace the heavier, 1980s-era British-origin Sea Eagle missiles currently used by the Navy.
Size and Range:
A single NASM-SR weighs about 380 kg, which is 200 kg lighter than the Sea Eagle, allowing helicopters to carry a larger payload.
It possesses a strike range of 55 km.
The missile is powered by a solid propulsion booster rocket and a long-burn sustainer engine.
'Man-in-loop' Capability:
Unlike older "fire-and-forget" systems, the NASM-SR utilizes a high-bandwidth two-way data link that allows a human operator in the helicopter to alter the missile's trajectory mid-flight.
This ensures adaptability against evasive targets and prevents accidental strikes on non-combatants in crowded maritime environments.
'Waterline Hit' Feature:
The missile utilizes a seeker for tracking and a radio altimeter to maintain a low-altitude, sea-skimming trajectory.
This allows it to precisely strike a vessel exactly at or just above the line where the hull meets the water, causing devastating structural damage and rapid flooding.
The recent demonstration involved firing two missiles back-to-back in quick succession.
This specific capability is critical for overwhelming and penetrating advanced enemy shipborne defence systems.
The successful test was also witnessed by representatives from the Indian Air Force (IAF), indicating that the IAF may induct the missile for its own helicopter platforms in the coming years.