INDIA: The Extended Range Anti-Submarine Rocket (ER-ASR), designed by Pune-based Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) and High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL), was successfully test-fired for the first time from the Indian Navy’s destroyer INS Chennai on Monday, official sources stated.
The rocket system has been developed by ARDE and HEMRL, the facilities of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), to replace the existing Russian-origin rocket-guided bombs (RGBs).
The system has been developed to enhance the range of the existing RGB-60 Anti-Submarine Rocket from 5.3 km to 8.0+ km. It consists of two motor propulsion systems that can fire the rocket in short-range mode and long-range mode to achieve different range capabilities from 500 metres to 8900 metres. The rocket will be titled RBU 6000.
During the maiden tests, the performance of the rocket system was evaluated at a short range of 2.7 km and in long-range mode at 8.5 km. The trajectory of rockets was tracked by onboard radar and telemetry systems. The underwater blast effect of the warhead was confirmed by the onboard sonar system.
The rocket system will be deployed in anti-submarine operations and will be fired from an indigenous rocket launcher mounted onboard various Indian naval ships.
The DRDO has devised the rocket system to penetrate 10- to 350-metre-deep underwater submarines. It can be fired in single or salvo mode, depending on the tactical mission requirements.
The successful maiden test of the ship is a step towards enhancing the capability of the Indian Navy in anti-submarine warfare and towards achieving “Atma Nirbharta” (self-reliance) in defence, DRDO officials said.
Earlier, India used to import the RGBs from Russia. Now the DRDO is working on a mission mode, and all the tests of ER-ASR are expected to be completed by June 2024. Hyderabad-based Bharat Dynamics Limited will be a partner in this joint venture.
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