DRDO successfully flight-tests supersonic missile assisted torpedo release system

The test was carried out at 1145 hrs from Wheeler Island off the coast of Odisha.

All the mission objectives, including missile flight up to the range and altitude, separation of the nose cone, release of torpedo and deployment of Velocity Reduction Mechanism (VRM), have been met perfectly, a DRDO release stated.

The tracking stations (Radars, Electro Optical Systems) along the coast and the telemetry stations, including down range ships, monitored all the events.

The launch and demonstration is significant in establishing Anti-Submarine warfare capabilities.

A number of DRDO laboratories, including DRDL, RCI Hyderabad, ADRDE Agra, NSTL Visakhapatnam, have developed the technologies required for SMART.

Defence minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the DRDO Scientists for the achievement of a major 'technology- breakthrough'. "DRDO has successfully flight-tested 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 & other stakeholders for the achievement," Rajnath Singh said in a tweet.

Union minister Prakash Javadekar also welcomed the development as an achievement in light of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. "Successful flight test of Supersonic Missile Assisted Release of Torpedo (SMART), is a big technology breakthrough in anti-submarine warfare. Congratulations to @DRDO_India scientists for this rare feat. Another firm step towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat," he said in a tweet.

Secretary DD R&D and chairman of DRDO, G Satheesh Reddy, said SMART is a game changer technology demonstration in the Anti-Submarine Warfare.

This is the latest of a series of milestones achieved by India's premier defence research agency.