Naval Anti-Ship Missile Short Range:
The Indian Navy, in association with DRDO, successfully undertook Guided Flight Trials of the first indigenously developed Naval Anti-Ship Missile Short Range (NASM-SR) from a Sea King 42B helicopter recently.
- Naval Anti-Ship Missile Short Range (NASM-SR) is the first indigenous air-launched anti-ship cruise missile developed for the Indian Navy.
- It was developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
- It can be launched from attack helicopters.
- This missile will replace the Sea Eagle missiles, which are currently in use with the Navy.
- With the Sea King helicopters also being phased out, it is expected that the NASM-SR will be used with the new MH-60R multi-role helicopters, which are being inducted into the Navy.
- The missile’s new guidance system includes a state-of-the-art navigation system and integrated avionics.
- It employs several new technologies, including an indigenously developed launcher for the helicopter.
- With a strike range of around 60 km, the air-launched anti-ship missile can travel at a speed of Mach 0.8.
- It would have an imaging infrared seeker, which would home in on the heat emissions of its targets.
- It can have a warhead of 100kg and is capable of sinking patrol boats and damaging larger warships.
- The NASM-SR, on approach to its target, can cruise at just 5 metres above sea level, making it difficult for enemy radars to detect, track, and shoot down with surface-to-air missiles or guns.
- This low-level capability of anti-ship missiles is known as sea skimming.
