An Indian Navy Sea King Mk 42B helicopter prepares to launch a Naval Anti-Ship Missile – Short Range during trials off the coast in eastern India on 25 February 2025. (DRDO)
In the latest round of trials of the domestically developed Naval Anti-Ship Missile-Short Range (NASM-SR), India's Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Navy have tested the weapon's onboard datalink system and the ‘human-in-the-loop' feature.
Using an Indian Navy Leonardo (AgustaWestland) Sea King Mk 42B helicopter, the trials assessed the ability of the missile to strike a ship target. The testing was conducted on 25 February at the DRDO's Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur in eastern India, according to the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD).
The NASM-SR conducted its first test flight in May 2022. According to the ministry, the latest February trials assessed the effectiveness of the missile's ‘human-in-the-loop' feature. During the trial, the missile scored “a direct hit on a small ship target” while “in sea-skimming mode at its maximum range”, the MoD said.
According to the ministry, the missile was launched in ‘bearing-only lock-on after launch' mode with several ship targets in close vicinity to each other. “The missile initially locked on to a large target within a specified zone of search and during the terminal phase,” the ministry said, adding that the pilot then used the ‘human-in-the-loop' feature to send more accurate targeting co-ordinates to the missile.
This allowed a “smaller, hidden target” to be hit, the MoD added.
The NASM-SR is a helicopter-launched variant of the NASM family of missiles. Powered by a two-stage solid-propellant rocket motor, the sea-skimming missile has an average cruise speed of Mach 0.8. Janes has previously reported that the missile has a maximum range of 55 km.
Looking to read the full article?
Gain unlimited access to Janes news and more...
