New Delhi/IBNS: Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Navy carried out successful flight trials of the first-of-its-kind Naval Anti-Ship missile (NASM-SR) from Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur in Odisha on Tuesday.

The trials demonstrated the missile’s capability against ship targets while launched from an Indian Naval Seaking Helicopter.

The trials have proven the missile’s Man-in-Loop feature and scored 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.

The mission also has demonstrated the high bandwidth two-way datalink system, which is used to transmit the seeker's live images back to the pilot for in-flight retargeting.

The missile was launched in Bearing-only Lock-on after launch mode with several targets in close vicinity for selecting one among them. The missile initially locked on to a large target within a specified zone of search and during the terminal phase, the pilot selected a smaller hidden target resulting in its being hit with pinpoint accuracy.

The missile is 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 missiles are currently being produced by Development cum Production Partners with the help of MSMEs, start-ups, and other production partners.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has congratulated DRDO, the Indian Navy, and the industries for the successful flight tests. The tests for Man-in-Loop features are unique as they give the capability of in-flight retargeting, he said.

Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Dr Samir V Kamat also congratulated the entire DRDO team, users, and industry partners.