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India tests new method of launching torpedoes with the help of missiles

SMART missile-launched torpedo
Photo: Indian defense ministry

India’s defense technology development agency (DRDO) has announced what it says is a successful test of a conventional torpedo strapped to a supersonic missile for improved ranges of engagement.

The technology, dubbed supersonic missile assisted release of torpedo (SMART) was tested on October 5 from Wheeler Island off the coast of Odisha.

DRDO says all the mission objectives including missile flight up to the range and altitude, separation of the nose cone, release of torpedo and the deployment of a velocity reduction mechanism (VRM) have been met “perfectly.”

The tracking stations (radars, electro optical systems) along the coast and the telemetry stations including down range ships monitored all the events.

As explained, SMART is a missile assisted release of lightweight torpedoes for anti submarine warfare (ASW) operations far beyond range of the conventionally torpedoes. This launch and demonstration is significant in establishing Anti-Submarine warfare capabilities.

A number of DRDO laboratories including DRDL, RCI Hyderabad, ADRDE Agra, NSTL Visakhapatnam have developed the technologies required for SMART.