DRDO & Indian Navy Successfully Test NASM-SR Missile in Chandipur

The Indian Navy in collaboration with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully conducted the flight test of the indigenously developed Naval Anti-Ship Missile -Short Range (NASM-SR) on 25 February 2025.

The missile was launched from the Indian Navy’s Sea King Mk 42B helicopter from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur in Odisha on 25th February 2025.

NASM-SR is the country's first indigenously developed air-launched anti-ship missile system with a sea skimming ability. The first test of the missile was conducted in May 2022.

According to the DRDO, the Man-in-Loop feature of the missile was successfully validated in the test.

What is the Man in Loop feature of the Missile?

The unique feature of the NSAM-SR is its Man-in-Loop..

The missile has both fire and forget and Man-in-Loop features. 

Fire and forget means the pilot can lock on the target and fire the missile. The missile equipped with a heat seeker hit the target without any further guidance from the pilot of the fighter plane or attack helicopters.

Man-in-Loop means that the missile maintains a two-way data link with the helicopter's pilot. The pilot after firing the missile remotely controls the missile and guides it to the selected target with pinpoint accuracy. The pilot selects the target as the in-flight missile sends live pictures of the area over which it is flying. T

This also helps the pilot in changing the targets of the missile if the needs arise.

Feature of the NASM-SR Missile 

• The NASM-SR missile is a helicopter-launched variant of the NASM family of missiles.
• It is a subsonic weapon with an average cruise speed of Mach 0.8.
• It is powered by a two-stage solid-propellant rocket motor.
• The overall length of the missile is 3.6 m, a diameter of 300 mm, and weighs around 380 kg.
• The maximum range of the missile is 55 km.

Developer of the Missile 

• The DRDO has developed the missile with the contribution of  its Research Centre Imarat, Defence Research and Development Laboratory, High Energy Materials Research Laboratory and Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory
• The Adani Defence and Aerospace Company is manufacturing the Missile.

Platform of the Missile 

• The missile has been designed to be launched from an attack helicopter.
• So far the Indian Navy has used Augusta Westland’s  Sea King Mk 42B helicopters.
• The Indian Navy is expected to retire its Sea King helicopters and the missile will be integrated with the American Sikorsky MH-60R and the indigenously developed Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Dhruv helicopters.

DRDO Chief: Dr Samir V Kamath