DRDO Conducts SMART Test

India conducted the flight test of a Supersonic Missile Assisted Release of Torpedo (SMART) successfully.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) developed the Supersonic Missile Assisted Release of Torpedo (SMART).
Torpedoes are self-propelled weapons and can travel underwater to hit a target but they have limited range.
A typical torpedo has a range of about 12-15kms which brings a warship under direct threat of reciprocal attack.

DRDO undertook the project to build capacity to launch torpedoes assisted by missiles in the mid-2010s.
The SMART system comprises a modified mechanism where the torpedo is mounted on a supersonic missile system.
The modifications will take the torpedo to a far longer range than its own.
With the missile system, a torpedo gains the ability to hit targets hundreds of kilometres away.
Also, due to the diversity in launch platforms for the missile system it offers flexibility to launch torpedoes from anywhere.

The test was conducted from the Wheeler Island off the coast of Odisha.
DRDO said that the mission objectives were met perfectly. From the flight of the missile to its designated range and altitude to separation of the nose cone and release of the torpedo and deployment of Velocity Reduction Mechanism (VRM), the test was a test-book launch.
An anti-submarine torpedo of the light-weight category was used during the launch.
This test was followed by the test of the nuclear-capable Shaurya missile.
Shaurya missile is a land-based missile parallel to the submarine launched K-15 missile.

SMART is a game changing technology which shows its demonstration in anti-submarine warfare.
Couple with the Poseidon 8I anti-submarine aircrafts of the Indian Navy, the SMART system can thwart any threat from submarines thousands of kilometres away from the Indian coast.
In light of China’s growing influence in the Indian Ocean Region, India’s anti-submarine warfare capacity building is crucial.
These warfare consists of deployment of submarines, specialized anti-submarine ships, air assets and state-of-the-art reconnaissance and detection mechanisms.
After the conclusion of a contract for Advanced Torpedo Decoy System – Maareech, the anti-submarine warfare capability got a boost with the SMART missile.
Mareech system can be fitted to all frontline warships of the Indian Navy.
DRDO conducted two successful tests of the K family’s missiles, which are launched from sea.
There is a great strategic importance for the capability of launching nuclear weapons from submarine platforms.
These submarines can survive a first strike by an adversary and can also launch a strike retaliation.