About Naval Anti-Ship Missile–Medium Range (NASM–MR):
- It is a subsonic, sea-skimming anti-ship missile.
- It is being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the Indian Navy for use against small- to medium-sized targets such as frigates, corvettes, and destroyers.
- It will have different versions, including ship-launched, air-launched, and submarine-launched
- The missile complements the existing Naval Anti-Ship Missile-Short Range (NASM-SR), which was successfully tested earlier from a helicopter platform.
- Together, these systems provide layered strike options for the Navy, enabling both close-range and medium-range engagements against hostile warships.
- Features:
- It is powered by a Small Gas Turbine Jet Engine (SGTJE).
- This all-weather missile has a strike range of up to 350 km.
- It has a warhead weighing more than 200 kilograms.
- It has an advanced guidance system, which reportedly combines an active radar seeker with an imaging infrared (IR) seeker.
Successful Trials of multi-layered Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) system:
- The latest tests involved advanced interceptor systems developed under Phase II of the BMD programme, including the AD-series interceptors.
- These systems have been designed to engage and neutralise advanced, high-speed threats such as intermediate-range ballistic missiles (IRBMs) and ICBMs capable of travelling up to the 5,000-km class.
- The AD-1 endo-atmospheric interceptor has been designed to intercept targets within the Earth's atmosphere during the terminal phase of their flight.
- Propelled by a two-stage solid motor, it utilises advanced navigation and guidance algorithms to track and destroy fast-moving missiles as well as slower-moving aircraft.
- Similarly, the AD-2 interceptor has been designed to intercept incoming missiles at much higher altitudes, beyond the Earth's atmosphere during their mid-course flight phase.
- This allows early interception in space, destroying threats before they can re-enter and target specific regions.
- Both missiles are highly manoeuvrable and capable of hypersonic speeds ranging from Mach 6 to Mach 7, enabling them to intercept fast-moving ballistic targets.
- These tests have put the country in the elite group of nations having BMD capability to engage up to ICBMs.
