India anti-submarine rocket 2025: Indian Navy successfully tests indigenous ERASR on INS Kavaratti, boosting submarine defence with 8.9 km range and DRDO-made electronic fuze.
India’s Indigenous ERASR: Redefining Naval Anti‑Submarine Warfare 🌊
India has successfully completed user trials of the Extended Range Anti‑Submarine Rocket (ERASR), a 100% indigenous rocket designed to strengthen the Indian Navy’s submarine defence capabilities
Mission & Execution
Trials were conducted aboard INS Kavaratti, the Kamorta-class ASW stealth corvette, from June 23 to July 7, 2025. Over this period, 17 rockets were fired at various distances to validate performance, fuze accuracy, and warhead effectiveness
Design & Capabilities
ERASR features a twin-rocket motor, enabling both short-range (≈500 m) and long-range (up to ~8.9 km) modes. It includes an indigenous electronic time fuze for precise underwater detonation. Designed by DRDO’s ARDE Pune along with HEMRL and NSTL, the rockets are manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Ltd (BDL) and Solar Defence & Aerospace Ltd
Strengthening India’s Maritime Security
By expanding the strike envelope beyond the older RBU-6000/Smerch-2 limit (~5 km), the ERASR offers enhanced engagement options. The system allows single-shot or salvo launch configurations, delivering formidable underwater deterrence
Strategic and Operational Impact
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh praised the test as a “boost in striking power for the Navy,” reiterating India’s self-reliance in defence systemsFollowing trials, the system is ready for induction across ASW vessels in a bid to secure India’s maritime boundaries.
Why This News Is Important
1. Enhancing Strategic Autonomy
This development exemplifies India’s “Atmanirbhar Bharat” vision in defence. With ERASR’s entry, dependency on foreign subsystems diminishes, bolstering national resilience and sovereignty.
2. Strengthening Anti-Submarine Defences
Submarine threat in the Indo-Pacific is mounting. ERASR provides the Navy with a wider attack envelope (~8.9 km), enabling ships to pre-emptively neutralize underwater threats beyond torpedo range.
3. Optimising Indigenous Ecosystem
Designed by multiple DRDO labs and built by BDL & Solar Defence, this milestone underscores India’s robust R&D to production pipeline—boosting domestic employment and defence exports.
4. Force Multiplier for Modern Fleet
Onboard platforms like INS Kavaratti and upcoming Project 28 vessels will integrate ERASR, significantly enhancing multi-layered ASW capabilities and improving maritime deterrence.
5. Catalyst for Future ASW Tech
ERASR complements developments like DRDO’s SMART missile system, marking a technological leap in ASW. It sets the stage for more advanced, long-range anti-submarine weaponry in future naval arsenals.
Historical Context
Legacy of RGB‑60/RBU‑6000
India previously operated Russian RGB‑60/RBU‑6000 SALW systems with ~5–6 km range ERASR extends this envelope nearly twofold (~8.9 km), representing a major tactical upgrade.
DRDO’s ASW Evolution
ERASR is part of DRDO’s broader ASW journey. It follows the April 3, 2023 maiden test from INS Chennai. Concurrently, the SMART missile (Supersonic Missile Assisted Release of Torpedo) is designed for ultra-long-range ASW (~650 km)
Global Comparison
ERASR outperforms the old RBU‑6000 but still trails behind systems like the US Navy’s RUM‑139 VLA (~24 km) and China’s YU-8 (~50 km). Nevertheless, India’s ASW capabilities are steadily improving
Key Takeaways from ERASR Test
| # | Key Takeaway |
|---|---|
| 1 | ERASR trials completed aboard INS Kavaratti from 23 June–7 July 2025, firing 17 rockets. |
| 2 | Rocket system features twin-motor design with range modes from 500 m to ~8.9 km. |
| 3 | Includes indigenous electronic time fuze, ensuring high underwater detonation precision. |
| 4 | Designed by DRDO labs (ARDE, HEMRL, NSTL), produced by BDL & Solar Defence. |
| 5 | Markedly enhances ASW capabilities and aligns with India’s goal of defence self-reliance. |
FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is ERASR in the context of Indian defence?
ERASR stands for Extended Range Anti-Submarine Rocket. It is an indigenous anti-submarine rocket developed by DRDO to enhance India’s underwater warfare capabilities.
2. What is the range of the ERASR system?
ERASR can engage targets from 500 meters to approximately 8.9 kilometers, surpassing the older 5 km range of legacy systems like RBU-6000.
3. Who developed the ERASR?
The system was designed by DRDO labs—ARDE Pune, HEMRL, and NSTL—with manufacturing handled by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) and Solar Defence & Aerospace Ltd.
4. On which Indian Navy ship were the user trials conducted?
ERASR trials were conducted on INS Kavaratti, an anti-submarine warfare stealth corvette of the Indian Navy.
5. How does ERASR support the “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiative?
ERASR is entirely indigenously developed and manufactured, reducing dependency on foreign defence systems and promoting India’s defence manufacturing capabilities.
6. What is the significance of the electronic time fuze in ERASR?
The indigenous electronic time fuze allows accurate underwater detonation, improving strike precision against enemy submarines.
7. What time frame were the ERASR trials conducted?
The user trials were successfully conducted between June 23 and July 7, 2025.
8. How many ERASR rockets were fired during the user trials?
A total of 17 ERASR rockets were fired during the user validation tests.
9. How does ERASR compare with other ASW systems globally?
While ERASR marks a significant leap over India’s older systems, it still has a shorter range compared to advanced systems like the US Navy’s RUM-139 VLA or China’s YU-8.
10. What is the potential application of ERASR in the Indian Navy?
ERASR is likely to be deployed on all major Indian Navy ASW platforms to counter underwater threats more effectively.
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