Use Of DRDO’s SMART missile

DRDO SMART

On 5th October 2020, DRDO announced that all mission objectives for the SMART system had been fulfilled. 

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO for the test, describing it as a "significant achievement". 

The @DRDO_India has successfully flight tested the Supersonic Missile assisted release of Torpedo, SMART. This will be a major technology breakthrough for stand-off capability in anti-submarine warfare. I congratulate DRDO and other stakeholders for this significant achievement.

— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) October 5, 2020

In a press release, DRDO described SMART as a system meant to conduct anti-submarine warfare operations (ASW) "far beyond" torpedo range.

According to Chairman of DRDO, Dr G Satheesh Reddy, the SMART is a game-changer technology demonstration in the Anti-Submarine Warfare.

What exactly is SMART?

SMART Stands for Supersonic Missile Assisted Release of Torpedo

SMART has been a seemingly 'mysterious' project for the DRDO with few details available on what the system was, unlike the programme to build ballistic missiles or a stealth fighter.

One of the first details about SMART came from the MoD's annual report for 2018 to 2019. 

In the report, MoD noted, “DRDO has taken up a project to develop and demonstrate a missile-assisted release of lightweight anti-submarine torpedo system for ASW operations far beyond torpedo range (50-650 km)".

The MoD also noted that ejection trials had been conducted with a Torpedo Advanced Light (TAL), an indigenously developed torpedo, which is also called the Shyena.

From the available information, it is clear the SMART is a rocket system that carries an anti-submarine torpedo as its payload. 

Such rocket systems fly to a designated point over the ocean, before releasing their payload that is,  torpedoes.

Use Of SMART

Naval warships typically tend to carry light-weight torpedoes as their primary weapon for anti-submarine warfare. 

Because as heavy-weight torpedoes are significantly larger in diameter, meaning fewer can be carried.

However, light-weight torpedoes do have a disadvantage of having a shorter range. 

For example, the Shyena is estimated to have a range of around 20km. 

The short-range of light-weight torpedoes could only be used as a defensive weapon against enemy submarines.

This poses a significant disadvantage particularly if an enemy has a large number of submarines, in particular, nuclear-powered vessels that have much higher submerged speed than conventional diesel-electric submarines.

Rocket-assisted torpedoes, effectively, extend a torpedo’s range and can also help it cover a larger distance in a shorter period of time.

However, Rocket-assisted torpedoes are not new, both the US Navy and the Soviet Union developed rocket-assisted torpedoes. 

For example, the US Navy still operates the ASROC (Anti-Submarine Rocket), a rocket-propelled torpedo system that was first designed in the 1950s.

SMART could be a quantum leap for the Indian Navy's anti-submarine warfare capabilities, given the very-long range that DRDO has specified and its supersonic speed. 

The Indian Navy would need to modernise and expand its range of ship-borne and airborne anti-submarine surveillance and detection capabilities to take full advantage of the SMART missile.

Timing

The development of the SMART missile comes as China continues its near-relentless development of both nuclear-powered and conventional submarines. 

A report on China's naval modernisation by the US Navy's Office of Naval Intelligence noted that by 2030, China could have as many as 76 submarines: Eight nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines, 13 nuclear-powered attack submarines and 55 diesel-electric submarines. 

China's rivals such as India and the US have warily watched Beijing's attempts to develop bases in nations such as Pakistan and Cambodia, which would give this large submarine fleet a springboard. 

SMART could turn out to be a major factor in how India will counter China's submarine menace.