Inside 'salvo test' of India's new chopper-launched naval missile NASM-SR
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📌 Summary:
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DRDO and Indian Navy successfully conducted first salvo test of NASM-SR (Naval Anti-Ship Missile – Short Range) from helicopter off Odisha coast on April 29, 2026
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Two missiles launched in quick succession from the same chopper — marking significant milestone in indigenous naval capability
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What is NASM-SR?: Indigenously developed short-range anti-ship missile designed for ship-borne helicopter deployment
- Weight: ~380 kg (200 kg lighter than existing Sea Eagle missile)
- Range: 55 km (less than Sea Eagle's 110 km, but more helicopters can carry it)
- Uses radio proximity fuse to detonate explosive when within target range
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Two Key Features:
- 'Man-in-loop': Human operator can change missile's path mid-flight via two-way data link; reduces risk of hitting non-combatants in crowded maritime environments
- 'Waterline hit': Missile strikes at or below the waterline — causes catastrophic flooding and is far more lethal than hitting the hull above water
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Why helicopter-launched missiles matter: Enables navy to engage targets beyond a ship's own sensor range; helicopters can cover vast ocean areas quickly; adds stand-off strike capability
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IAF interest: Users' representatives from both Indian Navy and Indian Air Force witnessed the test — indicating IAF may also induct NASM-SR for its helicopter platforms
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Significance: Advances Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence; adds indigenous precision strike capability to counter surface threats in Indian Ocean Region
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