Naval anti-ship missile successfully test-fired
GS Paper - 3 (Defence Technology)
The Indian Navy on 18 May 2022 successfully carried out the maiden test firing of the first indigenously developed naval anti-ship missile from a Seaking helicopter. The test was conducted at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Odisha's Balasore. This firing is a significant step towards achieving self-reliance in niche missile technology and reaffirms the Indian Navy's commitment to indigenisation.
What
- The Indian Navy carried out the test in association with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
- The test-firing of the new missile came over a month after an anti-ship version of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile was successfully test-fired jointly by the Indian Navy and the Andaman and Nicobar Command.
- The Indian Navy has been steadily enhancing its overall combat capability to effectively protect India's maritime security interests, particularly in the Indian Ocean region.
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched two frontline warships of the Indian Navy.
- The ships -- INS Surat and INS Udaygiri -- were launched at the Mazagon Docks Limited (MDL) in Mumbai.
- INS Surat is the fourth guided-missile destroyer of the P15B class, while INS Udaygiri is the second stealth frigate of the P17A class.
