The Extended Range Anti Submarine Rocket (ER-ASR) designed by two Pune-based facilities of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) was successfully test-fired for the first time from Indian Navy Kolkata-class stealth guided missile destroyer INS Chennai earlier on April 3. The ER-ASR was designed and developed by Pune-based Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) and High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL). The anti-submarine rocket has been designed to replace the existing Russian-origin Rocket Guided Bombs (RGBs).
During the maiden tests conducted from Indian Navy’s guided missile destroyer INS Chennai on April 3, the performance of the rocket system was evaluated at the short range of 2.7 kilometers and in long range mode at 8.5 kilometers. 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. It is designed to intercept submarines at specific depths.
RGB-60 (Rocket Guided Bomb model 60) is a Russian anti-submarine weapon with a range of 5,700–6,000 m that can function to depths of 500 m. They can be fired from ships in salvos of up to 12 using the RBU-6000. Versions of the RGB-60 were provided to the Indian Navy with a strike range of 1,500 m. The surface-to-water anti-submarine rokets can be launched from the ship and are capable of destroying any submarine at depths of 30m-300m. The anti-submarine rockets would provide hard and soft kill capabilities for the ships to neutralise enemy attacks effectively.
The Extended Range Anti-Submarine Rocket (ER-ASR) can be fired in single or in salvo mode depending on the tactical mission requirements. It consists of two motor propulsion systems which can fire the rocket in Short Range mode and Long Range mode to achieve different range capabilities. The maiden successful test from the ship is a step towards enhancing the capability of the Indian Navy in anti-submarine warfare and towards achieving ‘Atma Nirbharta’ in defence. While the RGB has a range of five kilometers, the ER-ASR can achieve a range over eight kilometers.
