India marks major missile milestone as DRDO, Navy conduct first salvo launch of NASM-SR

Rashmi Pandey — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 14:10:01 +0000

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Navy have successfully conducted the maiden salvo launch of the Naval Anti-ship Missile-Short Range (NASM-SR) from a Navy helicopter platform off the coast of the Bay of Bengal in Odisha, the government said on Tuesday.

During the trial, two missiles were fired in quick succession from the same helicopter, marking the first salvo launch of an advanced air-launched anti-ship missile system, according to the official statement. The test was conducted at the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, where tracking and telemetry systems recorded the performance of the missiles throughout the flight.

Officials said all test objectives were met and the missiles demonstrated waterline-hit capability. The trial was monitored using radar, electro-optical systems and telemetry tools deployed at the test range. Senior DRDO scientists, representatives of the Indian Navy and Indian Air Force, and development-cum-production partners witnessed the launch.

The NASM-SR uses a solid propulsion booster and a long-burn sustainer. The missile includes several indigenously developed critical systems such as the seeker, integrated avionics module, advanced navigation and guidance package based on a fibre-optic gyroscope inertial navigation system and radio altimeter, high-bandwidth two-way data link and jet-vane control.

According to the government, the missile system was developed by Hyderabad-based Research Centre Imarat with support from DRDL Hyderabad, High Energy Materials Research Laboratory Pune, Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory Chandigarh and ITR Chandipur . The missiles are now being produced by development-cum-production partners with support from Indian industries and start-ups.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO, the Indian Navy, the Indian Air Force and industry partners for the successful test, saying the development would significantly strengthen the country’s defence capability. DRDO chairman and Secretary, Department of Defence R&D, Dr Samir V. Kamat, also congratulated the teams involved in the launch.

The successful salvo test marks another step in India’s effort to expand its indigenous missile systems and improve operational capability for naval warfare

Defence Research and Development Organisation | Business Upturn

India marks major missile milestone as DRDO, Navy conduct first salvo launch of NASM-SR