Why India's new helicopter-launched naval missile 'hits different', Pg9

Key Highlights:

• The DRDO and Indian Navy successfully test-launched the indigenously developed Naval Anti-Ship Missile Short Range (NASM-SR) from a helicopter off the Odisha coast.
• The NASM-SR is designed to be deployed from ship-borne helicopters and offers a potential upgrade to the Navy's existing missile systems.
• The missile weighs around 380 kg and has a range of 55 km.
• The test included a successful salvo launch, demonstrating the ability to launch multiple missiles in quick succession.

Detailed Insights:

• The NASM-SR provides the Indian Navy with the capability to engage hostile vessels from a safe distance.
• The Sea Eagle, currently in use, is a 1980s-era missile weighing around 580 kg with a range of 110 km, but lacks modern capabilities.
• The NASM-SR incorporates "man-in-loop" technology, allowing operators to adjust the missile's trajectory mid-flight, enhancing adaptability and reducing risks in crowded maritime environments.
• The missile is designed for a "waterline hit," targeting the ship's hull at or just above the waterline, which is a vulnerable area that can cause rapid flooding and disable the vessel.

Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved:

• Solid Propulsion Booster Rocket: Provides initial thrust to the missile.
• Sustainer Engine: Keeps the missile flying for a longer duration.
• Radio Proximity Fuse: Detonates the explosive device when the missile is near the target.
• Sea-skimming trajectory: Missile flies as close as possible to the sea surface to avoid detection.