NASM-SR Salvo Launch From Sea King Helicopter
Why in the news
The Indian Navy and DRDO test-fired several NASM-SR missiles in rapid succession from a Sea King helicopter for the first time. The trial moves India towards phasing out the old Sea Eagle missiles of British origin.
Key facts
- NASM-SR stands for Naval Anti-Ship Missile Short Range, India’s first indigenous missile fired from a helicopter.
- Salvo launch means firing two or more missiles together at one or several targets, so that enemy defences get saturated.
- Developed by Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad, a leading DRDO lab.
- Strike range is roughly 55 km, so the helicopter stays outside the target’s close-in defences.
- The missile follows a sea-skimming path just above the waves, which hides it from ship radars among wave clutter.
- Terminal guidance uses an IIR seeker (Imaging Infra-Red), and it can achieve a waterline hit for maximum damage.
Technical features
| Component | Role |
|---|---|
| Ejectable booster | Gives first thrust so the missile clears the helicopter safely |
| Long-burn sustainer | Solid-fuel motor keeping subsonic speed in cruise |
| Fibre-optic gyroscope | Navigation sensor with no moving parts; compact, reliable, vibration-resistant |
| Jet vane controls | Vanes in the motor exhaust that turn the missile sharply just after launch, before the fins work |
About the weapon
- It is designed to neutralise small and medium vessels such as corvettes and patrol boats, and to damage bigger ships.
- It cuts reliance on foreign original equipment manufacturers and offers the Navy a tailor-made answer for littoral (near-shore) warfare.
Exam angle
- Developer: RCI Hyderabad under DRDO.
- Replaces: Sea Eagle missiles (British-made).
- Platform used in the trial: Sea King helicopter.
- Likely areas: defence indigenisation, weapon systems, recent DRDO achievements.