On January 2024, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Navy successfully executed the maiden salvo launch of the Naval Anti-ship Missile-Short Range (NASM-SR) from an operational naval platform off the Indian coastline. This event marked the first simultaneous firing of multiple NASM-SR missiles, demonstrating salvo capability and enhancing India’s indigenous maritime strike proficiency. The NASM-SR features a sea-skimming flight profile and an operational range of approximately 120 km, designed to neutralize hostile surface vessels effectively.

This milestone advances India’s strategic deterrence and operational readiness in the Indo-Pacific theatre by reducing reaction time and increasing target saturation potential during naval engagements, aligning with India’s broader maritime security objectives.

Legal and Institutional Framework Governing NASM-SR Development

The NASM-SR development operates within a robust legal and institutional framework. The Defence Research and Development Organisation Act, 1980 mandates DRDO’s role in indigenous defence R&D. The Indian Navy functions under the Navy Act, 1957, authorizing operational deployment of weapon systems. The Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) 2020 incentivizes Make in India initiatives, stipulating indigenous content targets and procedural guidelines for capital acquisition.

• Article 51A of the Constitution imposes the fundamental duty on citizens to defend the country, underscoring the strategic importance of indigenous defence capabilities.
• The Arms Act, 1959 regulates possession and use of missile systems, ensuring legal compliance.
• The Official Secrets Act, 1923 applies to safeguard sensitive defence technology information.

Economic Dimensions and Indigenous Defence Production

India’s defence budget for 2023-24 stands at approximately ₹5.94 lakh crore (~$80 billion), with capital expenditure accounting for 25%, primarily directed towards indigenous R&D and procurement (Ministry of Defence, Budget 2023-24). The Defence Production Policy 2020 targets increasing domestic defence manufacturing from 25% to 70% by 2030, reducing reliance on imports.

• Indigenous missile development, including NASM-SR, reduces import dependence, saving an estimated $2 billion annually (SIPRI Arms Transfers Database 2023).
• The global naval missile market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 8.5% till 2030, presenting export potential for India’s indigenous systems (Frost & Sullivan Report 2023).
• Public Sector Undertakings like Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) play a key role in electronics and systems integration for missile platforms.

Key Institutions and Their Roles

The successful NASM-SR salvo launch is a product of coordinated efforts among multiple institutions:

• DRDO: Lead agency for missile design, development, and testing.
• Indian Navy: Operational partner conducting trials and eventual deployment.
• Ministry of Defence (MoD): Policy formulation, budget allocation, and procurement oversight.
• Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL): Systems integration and electronics manufacturing.
• Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO): Provides satellite navigation support critical for missile guidance accuracy.

Technical and Operational Data on NASM-SR Salvo Launch

The maiden salvo launch demonstrated simultaneous firing of multiple NASM-SR missiles, a first for India’s indigenous naval missile systems (PIB, 2024). The missile’s sea-skimming capability enhances survivability against enemy radar and missile defence systems. Operational parameters include:

• Range: ~120 km
• Flight profile: Sea-skimming to evade detection
• Salvo launch: Multiple missiles fired simultaneously to saturate enemy defences
• Indian Navy fleet: Over 130 warships, with plans to induct 45 new vessels by 2030 equipped with indigenous missile systems (Indian Navy Annual Report 2023)

Comparative Assessment: India’s NASM-SR vs China’s YJ-18

Critical Capability Gap: Network-Centric Warfare Integration

Despite the salvo launch success, India’s missile salvo systems lack full integration with advanced network-centric warfare platforms. This limits real-time data fusion, multi-domain operational synergy, and rapid decision-making. In contrast, China and the US have deployed sophisticated C4ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) systems that enable seamless integration of missile systems within broader battle networks (Defence Analysis Journal, 2024).

Significance and Way Forward

• The NASM-SR salvo launch elevates India’s indigenous maritime strike capability, reducing dependence on foreign suppliers and enhancing strategic autonomy.
• Scaling up salvo capability across missile classes will improve the Indian Navy’s ability to conduct multi-target engagements effectively.
• Prioritizing integration of missile systems with network-centric platforms is essential to match global standards and enhance operational effectiveness.
• Strengthening public-private partnerships and leveraging ISRO’s satellite navigation can accelerate missile guidance and targeting precision.
• Continuous R&D investment aligned with Defence Production Policy 2020 targets will consolidate India’s position among the top five global missile producers.

Jharkhand & JPSC Relevance

• JPSC Paper: Paper 2 (GS2) - Security and Defence; Paper 3 (GS3) - Science and Technology in Defence
• Jharkhand Angle: Jharkhand houses key DRDO laboratories such as the Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory (DMRL) in Hyderabad, influencing indigenous defence R&D that benefits national security.
• Mains Pointer: Frame answers highlighting India’s push towards self-reliance in defence technology, linking national security to regional stability in the Indo-Pacific, and the role of DRDO and Indian Navy in operationalising indigenous systems.