Article by Sankalan Chattopadhyay (twitter@vinoddx9)
Nirbhay cruise missile (photo: Vayu)
The devastating impact of anti-ship missiles was demonstrated for the first time in South Asia when missile boats of Indian Navy destroyed a number of Pakistan Navy vessels in Karachi harbour, firing Styx AShM on 5 December 1971. Over the next decades, India has acquired several new anti-ship missiles and has also achieved significant progress in indigenous development of anti-ship missiles development. These are briefly reviewed in this ‘snapshot’ .
BrahMos is a ramjet-propelled supersonic cruise missile jointly developed by Russia and India with sea skimming capability and can defeat air defence systems, striking the target high accuracy. Having a speed of Mach 3, the BrahMos can sink enemy ships in a single strike owing to its high kinetic energy. The missile can be launched from the ground, by ship or aircraft against both land and sea targets. According to recent reports, range of the BrahMos is to be increased to 600 km, and later to 800 km. While a submarine launched version is already developed, a lighter version is being developed for launch from torpedo tubes in the anti-ship role.
The lighter, air-launched version will enable Indian fighters to carry this weapon for long range missions. The hypersonic version being developed will surely become reality in the near future, and a game changer for India’s Armed Forces.
The Nirbhay is a long-range subsonic cruise missile under development, with a range of more than 1000 km, flying at a speed of Mach 0.6. This platform has been test-fired and demonstrated its terrain hugging and sea skimming capability.
(photo: MoD)
The Long Range Land Attack Cruise Missile (LRLACM) was unveiled at the recent DefExpo 2020. According to Onmanorama reports, this new system will have a range of 1000 km launched from a UVLM (Universal Vertical Launcher Module) and some 20 development flight trials are planned.
Existence of the NASM SR was revealed in 2018 when, in the Lok Sabha, Raksha Mantri Nirmala Sitharaman named this in the list of DRDO developments and those at other Indian institutions over the past three years (January 2016-December 2018). Initial details of this much speculated platform was unveiled at the DefExpo 2020. This Naval Anti-Ship Missile project is possibly being developed for a number of platforms, having different ranges. ‘SR’, or Short Range, means that development of other longer range versions is expected as well. According to DRDO, the NASM-SR will be a 380 kg projectile with a maximum range of 55 km and used initially with Indian Navy Sea King helicopters, replacing the earlier Sea Eagle missiles. As the Sea King itself is on the final lap of its service life, it is rational that the new indigenous missile will be in service with future helicopters of the Navy.
The Indian Navy is currently procuring MH-60R helicopters for multi-role purposes and these will be equipped with Kongsberg Naval Strike Missile. Further, for the Indian Navy’s IMRH acquisition, MBDA has pitched its Sea Venom which has a range of 25 km and also the Marte ER which can reach more than 100 km. The NASM SR could certainly be considered for these potent platforms. The long range version of the NASM SR will have a range excess of 150 km, enabling engagement of hostile targets from stand-off distances. At the DRDO stand during Aero India 2019 were several posters of a one-tonne class medium range air launched cruise missile. Not much else was revealed about this unnamed stealth missile but seems this will have a low RCS body to avoid radar detection. A model of this missile was also seen with a scaled version of the LCA Mk. 2 and is featured in recent graphics of the ORCA as well.
Photo MoD
(photo: Vayu)
The Varunastra is described as a long range anti-ship missile with cruising speed of 850 kmph. This low cost relatively light weight missile is being developed for neutralising smaller ships as a ‘cost effective solution’. The missile weighs 225 kg, has a 108 kg penetrator and blast fragmentation warhead. The missile has very low RCS and a designed range in excess of 270 km. The Vel is another low RCS platform being developed, a light cruise missile which weighs about 200 kg and can achieve speeds in excess of 270 km for employment against surface targets.
All of these indigenous anti-ship missiles are under current development and could take some time to mature, but once they enter service, India will be self-reliant in the field of anti-ship missiles. Keep watching this space!