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SOURCE: AFI

With the Indian Navy preparing to induct the Rafale M (Marine) fighters, India’s naval capabilities are set to receive a formidable boost. The Rafale M will come equipped with two state-of-the-art anti-ship missile systems that will greatly enhance India’s ability to neutralize hostile warships in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). These missiles, the NASM-MR and BrahMos-NG, represent a leap forward in terms of range, speed, and lethality, making them formidable tools for deterring adversaries and safeguarding India’s maritime interests.

The NASM-MR (Medium Range Anti-Ship Missile) is an all-weather, over-the-horizon anti-ship cruise missile currently under development by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Designed for accuracy, stealth, and a long reach, the NASM-MR is poised to extend the Navy’s offensive capabilities by engaging and neutralizing enemy ships at distances up to 300 kilometers.

NASM-MR With a range of 300 km, the NASM-MR allows the Rafale M to launch attacks from beyond the range of most enemy ship defences, increasing survivability while ensuring potent strike capabilities. The NASM-MR employs advanced guidance systems and reduced radar cross-sections, making it difficult for enemy vessels to detect and intercept. the NASM-MR is intended to be deployed on a variety of Indian naval platforms. Its integration with the Rafale M will bring flexibility, allowing the Navy to mount attacks from both ship-borne and airborne assets.

The NASM-MR’s range and stealth capabilities make it an ideal weapon for the Rafale M, allowing Indian forces to challenge enemy vessels operating in sensitive areas of the IOR without exposing their assets to unnecessary risk.

The BrahMos-NG (Next Generation) missile, under development by BrahMos Aerospace, is a miniaturized version of the iconic BrahMos missile. Capable of reaching Mach 3.5, the BrahMos-NG is a supersonic cruise missile that provides India with the unique capability to launch high-speed, high-impact attacks on enemy vessels from the Rafale M.

Flying at Mach 3.5, the BrahMos-NG is more than three times faster than sound. This speed makes interception by traditional anti-missile systems extremely challenging for hostile warships. The BrahMos-NG is designed to be smaller and lighter than the original BrahMos, allowing the Rafale M to carry it without significant aerodynamic or weight penalties.

The BrahMos-NG’s range of 290 km is enough to strike targets deep within the enemy’s defensive zones, allowing the Rafale M to stay out of harm’s way while unleashing devastating attacks. The BrahMos-NG’s combination of speed, range, and stealth will make it a nearly unstoppable threat to enemy warships. Once integrated into the Rafale M, it will allow Indian pilots to mount high-speed, supersonic attacks, delivering maximum damage to adversaries while minimizing the chances of counterattacks.

The NASM-MR and BrahMos-NG both offer long-range attack capabilities that allow the Rafale M to stay well beyond enemy reach. This will enable the Indian Navy to strike swiftly and decisively without risking its fighter jets or ships, a crucial advantage for maintaining control over critical sea lanes and maritime chokepoints.

With the ability to deliver attacks at nearly 300 km, the Rafale M can target hostile vessels well before they can close in on Indian assets, securing critical buffer zones around the Indian coastline and maritime boundaries.

Modern warfare relies heavily on precision strikes, and both NASM-MR and BrahMos-NG are equipped with advanced targeting systems to minimize collateral damage and maximize strike effectiveness. The stealth features of the NASM-MR and the BrahMos-NG’s high-speed capabilities will make it incredibly difficult for enemy radar and missile defense systems to track and intercept these missiles. Even the most sophisticated ship defenses would struggle to counter these missiles once they are launched, making them highly effective against well-armed vessels.

The versatility of the NASM-MR and BrahMos-NG allows them to be adapted for multiple mission profiles, from coastal defense to blue-water engagements. This adaptability gives the Indian Navy the flexibility to deploy Rafale M fighters for various offensive and defensive roles, ensuring maximum operational readiness across a range of potential scenarios.