Indian Navy Develops Advanced Anti-Ship Missile with Pinpoint Precision

Image credits: The Times of India

The Indian Navy is working on an advanced anti-ship missile that can hit even hidden enemies with pinpoint precision. The missile, which has been developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Navy, has undergone successful flight trials from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur, Odisha. The trials demonstrated the missile's capability against ship targets, with the missile scoring a direct hit on a small ship target in sea-skimming mode at its maximum range. The missile uses an indigenous imaging infra-red seeker for terminal guidance, which enables it to engage targets with high accuracy.

The man-in-loop feature of the missile allows the pilot to retarget the missile in flight, using a high bandwidth two-way datalink system to transmit the seeker's live images back to the pilot. This feature enables the missile to engage moving targets, even if they are hidden or attempting to evade the missile. The development of this advanced anti-ship missile is a significant milestone for the Indian Navy, which is seeking to enhance its capabilities to counter emerging threats in the maritime domain. The missile has been developed by different labs of DRDO, including Research Centre Imarat, Defence Research and Development Laboratory, High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, and Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory.

The successful test-firing of the missile has been congratulated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who praised the DRDO and the Indian Navy for their efforts in developing this advanced capability. The development of the missile is part of India's efforts to enhance its defence capabilities, particularly in the maritime domain. The Indian Navy is seeking to acquire a range of new capabilities, including advanced submarines, ships, and aircraft, to enhance its ability to project power and protect India's interests in the region. The development of the anti-ship missile is a significant step towards achieving this goal, and demonstrates India's growing capabilities in the field of missile technology.

Here are the key features of the new anti-ship missile: * Man-in-loop feature for in-flight retargeting * Indigenous imaging infra-red seeker for terminal guidance * High bandwidth two-way datalink system for transmitting seeker's live images * Capability to engage moving targets, even if they are hidden or attempting to evade the missile * Developed by different labs of DRDO, including Research Centre Imarat and Defence Research and Development Laboratory * Successfully test-fired from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur, Odisha

The development of the anti-ship missile is a significant achievement for the Indian Navy, and demonstrates its commitment to enhancing its capabilities to counter emerging threats in the maritime domain. The missile is expected to play a key role in India's maritime defence strategy, and will provide the Indian Navy with a significant advantage in terms of its ability to engage and destroy enemy ships. With its advanced capabilities and precision guidance, the missile is expected to be a game-changer in the maritime domain, and will enhance India's ability to protect its interests and project power in the region.