India's First Naval Anti-Ship Missile Completes Field Testing

The Indian Navy, in partnership with the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), recently conducted successful Guided Flight Trials of the first indigenously developed Naval Anti-Ship Missile from a Seaking 42B helicopter on November 21, as part of efforts to enhance self-reliance or 'Aatmanirbharta.'

In early October, reports surfaced that DRDO is preparing to conduct testing of the highly anticipated long-range anti-ship missile (LRASM), which is expected to bolster the Navy's capabilities in the area of ship-based missile systems with increased range, according to news sources.

The report stated that the missile may have a range of 500 kilometres, surpassing the range of 350-400 kilometres offered by the supersonic Indo-Russian cruise missile BrahMos.

In May 2022, India successfully tested its first domestically produced short-range anti-ship missile, which weighs approximately 380 kilograms and has a range of 55 kilometers. The missile known as the 'Naval Anti-ship Missile-short range' (NASM-SR) is designed to be launched from attack helicopters.

The Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MR-SAM) was a collaborative development project between the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and Israeli Aerospace Industries (IAI) at Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL).

The MRSAM has the ability to strike multiple targets from a distance of 70 kilometers. According to HT, the missile system includes the Combat Management System (CMS), Mobile Launcher Systems (MLS), Advanced Long Range Radar, Mobile Power System (MPS), Radar Power System (RPS), Reloader Vehicle (RV), and Field Service Vehicle. This system is powered by an indigenously developed rocket motor and control system.