NASM-SR

{{Short description|Indian anti-ship missile system}}

{{Use Indian English|date=September 2018}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}

{{Infobox weapon

| name = NASM-SR

| image = File:Seaking 42B of Indian Navy test launching NASAM-SR anti ship missile (cropped).jpg

| image_size = 300px

| alt =

| caption = Westland Sea King test launching NASM-SR

| type = Naval anti-ship missile

| origin = India

| is_missile = yes

<-- Service history -->

| service = Under development

| used_by =

| wars =

| designer = Defence Research and Development Organisation

| design_date =

| manufacturer = Adani Defence & Aerospace

| unit_cost =

| production_date =

| variants =

| engine = Solid-propellant rocket + ejectable booster and sustainer engine{{cite news |last1=Negi |first1=Manjeet |last2=Sharma |first2=Shivani |title=India conducts flight trials of first-of-its-kind naval anti-ship missile |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/drdo-navy-naval-anti-ship-missile-test-odisha-nasam-sr-defence-2686091-2025-02-26 |access-date=1 March 2025 |publisher=India Today |date=26 February 2025}}

| spec_label =

| weight = {{cvt|380|kg}}{{cite news |last1=Udoshi |first1=Rahul |title=India's naval anti-ship missile completes maiden flight test |url=https://www.janes.com/osint-insights/defence-news/weapons/indias-naval-anti-ship-missile-completes-maiden-flight-test |access-date=2 March 2025 |agency=Janes Information Services |publisher=janes.com |date=19 May 2022}}

| length = {{cvt|3.6|m}}

| width =

| height =

| diameter = {{cvt|300|mm}}

| filling = Multi-EFP,{{cite web |last1=Singh |first1=Dr. Manjit |title=Ammunition Systems and Warhead Technologies |url=https://www.drdo.gov.in/sites/default/files/technology-focus-documrnt/TF_Feb_2017_WEB.pdf |website=Technology Focus |publisher=Defence Research and Development Organisation |access-date=20 May 2022}} PCB{{cite news |last1=Negi |first1=Manjeet |last2=Sharma |first2=Shivani |title=India conducts flight trials of first-of-its-kind naval anti-ship missile |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/drdo-navy-naval-anti-ship-missile-test-odisha-nasam-sr-defence-2686091-2025-02-26 |access-date=1 March 2025 |publisher=India Today |date=26 February 2025}}

| filling_weight = {{cvt|100|kg}}

| detonation = Radio proximity fuze

| yield =

| fuel_capacity =

| vehicle_range = {{cvt|55|km}}{{cite news |last1=Rahmat |first1=Ridzwan |title=India carries out ‘guided flight trials' of indigenous anti-ship missile |url=https://www.janes.com/osint-insights/defence-news/weapons/india-carries-out-guided-flight-trials-of-indigenous-anti-ship-missile |access-date=2 March 2025 |agency=Janes Information Services |publisher=janes.com |date=22 November 2023}}

| speed = Mach 0.8{{cite news |last1=Kadidal |first1=Akhil |last2=Tripathi |first2=Bharat |last3=Udoshi |first3=Rahul |title=India tests anti-ship missile's features, datalink |url=https://www.janes.com/osint-insights/defence-news/defence/india-tests-anti-ship-missiles-features-datalink |access-date=2 March 2025 |agency=Janes Information Services |publisher=janes.com |date=28 February 2025}}

| guidance = Mid-course: Fibre-optic gyro inertial navigation system + radar altimeter and two-way datalink
Terminal: Imaging infrared{{cite news |title=DRDO & Indian Navy successfully conduct flight-trials of first-of-its-kind Naval Anti-Ship missile |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2106482 |access-date=1 March 2025 |agency=Ministry of Defence, Government of India |publisher=Press Information Bureau |date=26 February 2025}}

| wingspan =

| propellant = Solid fuel

| ceiling =

| altitude = 50m to 3km

| accuracy =

| launch_platform = Westland Sea King,{{cite web|title=Naval Anti-Ship Missile (NASM)|url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/india/nasm-sr.htm |website=Global Security}} MH-60R, HAL Dhruv

}}

NASM–SR or Naval Anti-Ship Missile–Short Range is the first indigenous air-launched anti-ship missile being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation for the Indian Navy.{{Cite web |last=Paul George |first=Justin |date=18 May 2022 |title=Smaller, slower than BrahMos, but deadly: Why desi anti-ship missile matters |url=https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2022/05/18/smaller-slower-than-brahmos-but-deadly-why-desi-anti-ship-missile-matters.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220519072519/https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2022/05/18/smaller-slower-than-brahmos-but-deadly-why-desi-anti-ship-missile-matters.html |archive-date=19 May 2022 |access-date=2022-05-18 |website=The Week |language=en}} The missile is manufactured by Adani Defence & Aerospace under DcPP programme.{{Cite web |title=Missiles {{!}} Adani Defence & Aerospace |url=https://www.adanidefence.com/en/missiles |access-date=2024-08-11 |website=www.adanidefence.com}}{{cite news |last1=Kadidal |first1=Akhil |last2=Tripathi |first2=Bharat |last3=Udoshi |first3=Rahul |date=28 February 2025 |title=India tests anti-ship missile's features, datalink |url=https://www.janes.com/osint-insights/defence-news/defence/india-tests-anti-ship-missiles-features-datalink |access-date=2 March 2025 |publisher=janes.com |agency=Janes Information Services}}

NASM-SR features lock-on after launch with automatic target selection. The missile can strike in sea skimming and lofted trajectory mode. It supports fire-and-forget operation in all weather conditions, day or night. Re-targeting is available through two-way datalink (human-in-the-loop system).{{Cite web |title=Missiles {{!}} Adani Defence & Aerospace |url=https://www.adanidefence.com/en/missiles |access-date=2024-09-13 |website=www.adanidefence.com}}

Development

Since 1980s, the Indian Navy has been using Sea Eagle anti-ship missile on its Westland Sea King Mk.42B multipurpose helicopter. The NASM-SR is intended as a replacement for the Sea Eagle missile which restricted flight range and increased take-off weight. The development of NASM-SR was made public for the first time in 2018 by the then Minister of Defence Nirmala Sitharaman. Fund of {{INRConvert|436.06|c|lk=on|year=2018}} for the development was also allocated in the same year.

The missile is being developed by multiple DRDO labs including Research Centre Imarat, Defence Research and Development Laboratory, High Energy Materials Research Laboratory and Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory.{{Cite news |date=2025-02-26 |title=DRDO & Indian Navy successfully conduct flight-trials of first-of-its-kind Naval Anti-Ship missile |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2106482 |access-date=2025-02-26 |work=Press Information Bureau}}

The NASM-SR can be easily adapted to launch from ships and land-based vehicles. DRDO is speculated to be developing a long range version of it for attacking land targets. As the Sea King Helicopters are being phased out, the NASM-SR will be equipped on Indian Navy's newly acquired MH-60R naval helicopters.{{Cite web |date=2022-05-21 |title=Explained: Why the anti-ship missile tested by the Navy matters |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/navy-anti-ship-missile-significance-explained-7928016/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220521071253/https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/navy-anti-ship-missile-significance-explained-7928016/ |archive-date=21 May 2022 |access-date=2022-05-21 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}

Design

The design and specifications of the new missile was revealed at the DefExpo 2020. The specification showed Mach 0.8 capable air launched anti-ship missile with a range of 55 km. The missile has an indigenous Imaging Infra-Red (IIR) seeker immune to jamming and state-of-the-art navigation system.

As reported, the missile is equipped with indigenous fibre-optic gyroscope-based inertial navigation system (INS) and a radar altimeter for mid-course guidance, along with an integrated avionics module, electro-mechanical actuators for aerodynamic and jet vane control, thermal batteries, and a PCB warhead.{{Cite web |last=Singh |first=Mayank |date=2025-02-26 |title=Indian Navy successfully tests first-of-its-kind NASM-SR missile with in-flight retargeting |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2025/Feb/26/indian-navy-successfully-tests-first-of-its-kind-nasm-sr-missile-with-in-flight-retargeting |access-date=2025-02-26 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}

The missile features human-in-the-loop system. It allows the pilot of the helicopter to launch the missile in bearing-only lock-on after launch mode towards a large target over a "specified zone of search" and later, in the terminal phase, locking onto a "smaller hidden target" (more precise target) improving the accuracy of the missile. The missile is also equipped high-bandwidth two-way datalink to relay live images from its seeker to the pilot for the in-flight retargeting. These features were operationally demonstrated in 2025.

Testing

File:Maiden flight test of indigenously developed Naval Anti-Ship Missile launched from an Indian Navy Sea King helicopter at the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur on 18 May 2022.jpg

  • Indian Navy successfully carried out the first test of the missile from a Sea King Mk.42B helicopter on 18 May 2022.{{Cite web |date=2022-05-19 |title=India tests indigenous anti-ship missile in a boost to self-reliance |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-tests-indigenous-anti-ship-missile-in-a-boost-to-selfreliance-101652899484048.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220519073202/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-tests-indigenous-anti-ship-missile-in-a-boost-to-selfreliance-101652899484048-amp.html |archive-date=19 May 2022 |access-date=2022-05-19 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}} On maiden test firing, NASM-SR demonstrated its sea skimming capability and approaches the target at 5m above the sea level.{{Cite web |last=Singh |first=Mayank |date=19 May 2022 |title=Air-launched anti-ship missile successfully tested |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2022/may/19/air-launched-anti-ship-missile-successfully-tested-2455326.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220519161805/https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2022/may/19/air-launched-anti-ship-missile-successfully-tested-2455326.html |archive-date=19 May 2022 |access-date=2022-05-19 |website=The New Indian Express}} The maiden test was successful, and the missile is said to have reached the designated target with high degree of accuracy. It validated the control, guidance and mission algorithms.{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2022-05-18 |title=India successfully test-fires naval anti-ship missile |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/indian-navy-successfully-test-fires-naval-anti-ship-missile/article65425605.ece |access-date=2022-05-19 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}
  • DRDO conducted successful guided flight trials of NASM-SR on 21 November 2023 in collaboration with Indian Navy.{{Cite web |date=2023-11-21 |title=Indian Navy tests first indigenously developed ‘anti-ship missile’ {{!}} Watch |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/indian-navy-tests-first-indigenously-developed-anti-ship-missile-watch-101700558255737.html |access-date=2023-11-21 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}
  • The NASM-SR missile was test fired by an Indian Naval SeaKing 42.B from Integrated Test Range, Chandipur, Odisha on 26 February 2025. The missile successfully hit a small ship target in sea skimming mode at maximum range. The missile deployed its indigenous IIR seeker for terminal guidance.

See also

References

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