SMART Missile (Supersonic Missile Assisted Release of Torpedo) is an advanced anti-submarine warfare (ASW) system developed by India’s DRDO to deliver lightweight torpedoes over very long distances using a supersonic missile carrier. Traditional torpedoes have limited range, but SMART Missile overcomes this by transporting the torpedo through a high-speed missile that travels hundreds of kilometers before deploying the torpedo into the water near the target area.

This technology significantly extends the strike range of India’s naval forces, enabling rapid, precise engagement of hostile submarines far beyond the reach of conventional ASW weapons. SMART Missile enhances India’s maritime security by combining missile speed with torpedo accuracy, offering a strategic advantage in anti-submarine warfare in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

Overview of SMART Missile 

Purpose of SMART Missile

1. Extend Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Strike Range

SMART Missile is designed to push ASW engagement distances far beyond the limits of traditional ship- or air-launched torpedoes, allowing India to target hostile submarines hundreds of kilometers away.

2. Deliver Torpedoes Rapidly and Precisely

By using a supersonic missile as the carrier, SMART Missile enables the fast and accurate delivery of a lightweight torpedo to the suspected submarine location, minimizing the enemy’s chances of escape.

3. Strengthen India’s Layered ASW Defence

SMART Missile adds a long-range strike layer to India’s existing ASW framework, improving security and operational depth across the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and safeguarding key maritime zones.

4. Offer a Cost-Effective Long-Distance ASW Solution

SMART Missile provides a budget-efficient alternative to deploying expensive aircraft or submarines for long-range ASW missions, reducing operational burden while increasing strategic reach.

5. Empower Coastal and Shore-Based Defences

By enabling land-based launch capabilities, SMART Missile allows coastal installations to actively engage submarines far out at sea, significantly expanding India’s coastal defence effectiveness.

Advantages of SMART Missile

1. Very Long Range compared to standard torpedoes.

2. Supersonic speed reduces enemy reaction time.

3. High accuracy through guided missile delivery.

4. Low risk to Indian naval vessels (standoff capability).

5. Can be launched from land, increasing coastal ASW depth.

6. Cost-effective compared to continuous aircraft or submarine ASW patrols.

7. Works in all-weather and day/night conditions.

8. Integrates seamlessly into India’s maritime surveillance network.

Operational Role of SMART Missile

SMART Missile performs several key operational functions:

1. Long-Range ASW Engagement

• Delivers torpedoes to targets hundreds of kilometers away, far beyond normal torpedo range.

2. Rapid Response Against Submarine Threats

• The supersonic missile ensures fast travel time, reducing enemy submarine escape chances.

3. Standoff Defensive Operations

• Allows naval forces to engage enemy submarines while remaining at a safe distance.

4. Network-Centric ASW Operations

• Can receive targeting data from:

  • Maritime patrol aircraft (P-8I)

  • Underwater sensors

  • Sonar arrays

  • Satellites or coastal radars

5. Coastal and Fleet ASW Enhancement

• Allows both ships and coastal batteries to neutralize underwater threats.
  
  

Importance of SMART Missile

1. Massive Range Boost

SMART Missile transforms traditional lightweight torpedoes—normally limited to short ranges—into long-range anti-submarine weapons capable of striking targets up to 650 km away, dramatically expanding India’s ASW engagement envelope.

2. Powerful Force Multiplier

By integrating missile speed with torpedo accuracy, SMART Missile becomes a force multiplier for the Navy, significantly enhancing the effectiveness of surface ships, submarines, and coastal defence installations in countering underwater threats.

3. Anti-Access/Area Denial (A2/AD) Capability

The system enables India to create strong A2/AD zones, preventing hostile submarines from freely operating in strategically sensitive waters and restricting their access to Indian maritime approaches.

4. Strengthened Maritime Security

SMART Missile greatly improves India’s layered maritime defence, especially in high-risk sectors such as the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, and vital sea lanes, ensuring better surveillance, deterrence, and response to submarine incursions.

5. Boost to Indigenous ASW Technology

Developed entirely by DRDO, SMART Missile enhances India’s technological self-reliance in advanced anti-submarine warfare and reduces dependence on foreign systems for long-range underwater threat neutralization.

6. Reduced Dependence on Manned Aircraft

With SMART Missile, naval forces can undertake long-range ASW missions without relying heavily on aircraft like P-8I or helicopters, lowering operational costs and providing persistent underwater engagement capability.

7. Strategic Deterrence Against Enemy Submarines

The presence of SMART Missile in India’s arsenal acts as a credible deterrent, signaling to adversaries that their submarines can be detected and neutralized long before they approach Indian waters.

Limitations of SMART Missile

1. Still under development, not yet widely operational.

2. Requires accurate submarine location data for effective deployment.

3. Torpedo effectiveness still depends on final underwater tracking.

4. Not suitable for close-range submarine engagements.

5. High-speed missile launch may reveal approximate firing area to adversaries.

6. Complex system requiring strong coordination with sonar and tracking assets.

Conclusion

SMART Missile represents a major technological breakthrough in India’s anti-submarine warfare capabilities. By combining a supersonic missile with a lightweight torpedo, SMART Missile enables long-range, rapid, and precise engagement of underwater threats that were previously out of reach. Once fully operational, it will provide the Indian Navy with a powerful standoff ASW weapon, greatly enhancing maritime security and ensuring dominance in the Indian Ocean Region. SMART Missile is a true force multiplier that brings India closer to advanced, integrated, and highly responsive underwater warfare capabilities. For more information about missiles visit Education Masters.