Indian Torpedo System: Soon the Indian Navy will receive the new long-range next-generation torpedo system that was produced locally. When there is a military conflict, this sophisticated naval weapon system seriously threatens enemy submarines.
The Defense Research and Development Organization’s (DRDO) successful test of the Supersonic Missile-Assisted Release of Torpedo (SMART) system on May 1 has alarmed India’s enemies, especially China and Pakistan. Now, before putting their submarines close to the Indian Ocean, these countries will think twice.
A one-of-a-kind technological accomplishment is the use of a missile to fire a torpedo against an enemy submarine. The torpedo may strike the target relatively quickly because missiles travel at supersonic speed. With SMART, India has therefore given its anti-submarine warfare a new dimension that other nations would seek to imitate.
A precision inertial navigation system, an electromechanical actuator system, a two-stage solid propulsion system, and other sophisticated sub-systems make up the canister-based missile system SMART. As a payload, the device includes a parachute-based release mechanism and a sophisticated lightweight torpedo. The torpedo can then hit the target and go a great distance.
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Developed locally as well, the torpedo known as Torpedo Advanced Light (TAL) is digitally controlled using guidance systems and will be deployed as a payload on the missile’s warhead. With this sophisticated SMART torpedo, India is ahead of the competition in terms of obtaining deadly antisubmarine weaponry.
As per ABPlive, torpedoes have a restricted range of about 40 km and normally move at subsonic speeds. With a range of almost 600 miles, the SMART torpedo allows the Indian Navy to target enemy submarines from a far larger range.
A ballistic missile carrying the torpedo will get it closer to the target, from which a parachute will release it for the last offensive. A guidance system will direct the torpedo to target enemy submarines. The SMART torpedo will seriously threaten adversary submarines, whether it is launched from the coast or a warship.
The enemy submarine is hard to target without a torpedo-carrying warship or submarine-like platform nearby once it is situated in a certain location. But things turn around with the SMART torpedo.
Hundreds of kilometres distant, the SMART system can be notified by the naval surveillance plane P-8I or an anti-submarine helicopter to launch the missile-assisted torpedo.
SMART Torpedo System in Indian Navy
Approved in 2018, the revolutionary anti-submarine weapon system saw its first two successful tests in 2020 and 2021. A few further tests will be necessary before the SMART torpedo is introduced into the Indian Navy. Just after Russia, India will be the second nation to use such a sophisticated torpedo. Working on similar initiatives are the US and Japan as well.
Strategically used, this new Indian weapon will not spare any of India’s enemies from its fury if they launch an onslaught against the country. Now, the Indian Navy has easy access to strike enemies not just in the Indian Ocean but also in their backyard, the South China Sea.
With the Indian Navy preparing to receive six more sophisticated submarines under the Project 75I program—built in India with foreign assistance—SMART significantly improves India’s submarine warfare capabilities.
The Indian Navy now possesses 16 submarines, however, in the following years, the kilo-class and German HDW submarines will phase out, reducing the fleet. It will take at least ten years for the induction programme for the six submarines built in India to come to pass.
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Until then, the Indian Navy was desperately in need of a missile system to stop enemy submarines from moving through Indian seas. In the Indian Ocean Region at least, SMART will enable the Navy to rule. When positioned in the Andaman islands, SMART will be able to stop enemy submarines from crossing the Malacca Strait and entering the Indian Ocean.
With friendly and rival navies vying for dominance of the Indian Ocean, the newest addition to India’s naval arsenal will give Indian naval strategists more confidence to counter any hostile actions.
Many people compare naval combat to a game of hide-and-seek.
Even though they are practically at our door, nobody can see these underwater warships. Finding a submerged naval ship is difficult.
SMART will enable the Indian Navy to neutralise their threat, nevertheless, as soon as such a vessel is detected.
This development might change naval combat and tip the military power balance.
