DRDO Successfully Tests Naval Anti-Ship Missile NASM-SR From Indian Navy Sea King Helicopters

In a significant development aimed at bolstering the indigenous anti-ship capabilities of the Indian Navy, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) achieved a successful test of the Naval Anti-Ship Missile - Short Range (NASM-SR) on November 21.

This milestone marks the second test of the NASM-SR, following its initial trial on May 18, 2022, launched from an Indian Navy Sea King Mk42B helicopter. The recent test, conducted collaboratively by the navy and DRDO, showcased the missile precision guidance technology, with the Sea King helicopter firing the missile.

The NASM-SR is a helicopter-launched missile designed to eliminate small boats or offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) with a maximum range of 55 kilometers and a speed of 0.8 Mach. The successful test was hailed by DRDO as a "significant step in achieving self-reliance in missile tech, including seeker & guidance tech."

Despite its compact size, the missile explosively formed penetrator (EFP) warhead, weighing only 100 kilograms, possesses the capability to effectively destroy large ships, particularly if it hits the area where ammunition or fuel is stored.

The NASM-SR employs an imaging infrared seeker (IIR) in its terminal phase, enabling precise target location and destruction. Following the retirement of Sea King Mk42B helicopters, currently in their last phase of service, the NASM-SR missile is set to be integrated with the newly-acquired MH-60R helicopters from the United States, marking a strategic transition in naval capabilities.