Context

A successful flight test of the Supersonic Missile Assisted Release of Torpedo (SMART) system was conducted from Wheeler Island, off the coast of Odisha.

About

• SMART is a missile-assisted release of lightweight anti-submarine torpedo system for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) operations far beyond torpedo range.
• SMART is a hybrid missile that incorporates technologies of two different weapon systems making it faster and stealthier.
• With this, India has got an anti-submarine weapon having much higher range.
• While the long range torpedo available in the world is around 50 km and rocket-assisted torpedoes can strike at a range of 150 km, the SMART will have a range of over 600 km.
  

Significance of the System

• The development of the system has been crucial in capacity building of naval platforms to strike beyond the torpedo range.
• The system will be a significant addition to India’s anti-submarine warfare capabilities and the test is a key step towards its deployment.
• This launch and demonstration is significant in establishing anti-submarine warfare capabilities.