Modern naval warfare involves diverse targets ranging from large surface combatants such as destroyers or aircraft carriers to small patrol vessels and asymmetric drone-swarm threats. For nearly two decades, India’s maritime strike capability has been closely associated with a single weapon system: the supersonic BrahMos cruise missile. Its speed, range and destructive potential have made it one of the most formidable anti-ship missiles currently in service.

The prominence of the BrahMos missile in India’s maritime strike doctrine has been well established through Operation Sindoor and numerous successful test firings.[i] With supersonic speed, high kinetic energy and mid-course correction capability, the missile provides India with a potent stand-off anti-ship and land-attack capability.[ii] Its deployment across several surface combatants, road-mobile launchers and fighter aircraft has significantly enhanced India’s ability to conduct long-range precision strikes.

However, the operational environment in the maritime domain is increasingly characterised by a wider spectrum of targets and engagement scenarios. Another limitation of the BrahMos arises from platform integration constraints. BrahMos is primarily designed for deployment from large surface combatants or aircraft with sufficient payload capacity.[iii] Smaller naval platforms, as well as shipborne helicopters that play a critical role in maritime surveillance and anti-submarine warfare operations, cannot carry the BrahMos. Moreover, employing a large and expensive supersonic missile like BrahMos against every target is neither operationally efficient nor economically sustainable.

Recent developments suggest that India is beginning to address this aspect through indigenous solutions. In February 2025, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Navy successfully conducted flight trials of the Naval Anti‑Ship Missile-Short Range (NASM-SR), an indigenous helicopter-launched anti-ship missile. A successful salvo launch followed this in April 2026. While lightweight anti-ship missile systems of this category already exist internationally, the NASM-SR is significant because it represents an indigenous effort to equip smaller aerial platforms with stand-off maritime strike capability. It also reflects indigenous expertise in seekers, guidance systems and missile integration technologies.

NASM-SR Capabilities, Operational Significance

The NASM-SR incorporates several features that support flexible targeting in complex maritime environments. These include an indigenous infrared imaging (IIR) seeker, midcourse guidance supported by inertial navigation, and a two-way datalink enabling man-in-the-loop target selection.[iv] The IIR seeker is usually more difficult to jam than radar seekers.[v] These capabilities allow operators to identify a probable target zone before launching the missile. The missile sends live seeker imagery back to the helicopter via a two-way datalink, allowing the pilot to change the target during flight.[vi] This capability is particularly useful in contested littoral waters where multiple vessels may be present, and IFF (Identifying Friend or Foe) is challenging. During the February 2025 test, the missile was fired in a sea-skimming mode that minimises the enemy’s detection time as it flies closer to the water’s surface.[vii]

The April 2026 salvo launch of the NASM-SR further strengthens the case for its operational relevance.[viii] It will allow naval helicopters and, potentially, Indian naval UAVs to engage multiple targets or improve the probability of kill against a single target through salvo firing. The demonstrated waterline hit capability also indicates a focus on........

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