Big boost to Navy’s underwater strike power under Atmanirbhar Bharat
In a major leap for India’s maritime defense capabilities, the Indian Navy has successfully completed user trials of the Extended Range Anti-Submarine Rocket (ERASR) — a fully indigenous underwater weapon system — from the stealth warship INS Kavaratti.
The trials, conducted between June 23 and July 7, 2025, saw the Navy fire 17 ERASR rockets across varying distances in the Bay of Bengal, testing everything from accuracy and range to detonation control.
What is ERASR?
Developed by DRDO’s Armament Research & Development Establishment (ARDE), with support from HEMRL and NSTL, the ERASR is an upgraded version of the older RGB-60 anti-submarine rocket.
But here’s the game-changer — ERASR has nearly double the range, capable of hitting underwater targets as far as 8.9 kilometers, compared to the older rockets that maxed out at around 5–6 km. It uses twin-mode propulsion (short- and long-range) and features a state-of-the-art indigenous electronic time-fuze, designed to explode at precisely the right depth below the sea.
It’s compatible with the Indian Navy’s Indigenous Rocket Launcher (IRL) system, which is fitted aboard warships like INS Kavaratti.
INS Kavaratti: The Perfect Platform for Testing
The trials were conducted from INS Kavaratti (P31) — one of the Navy’s most advanced Kamorta-class anti-submarine stealth corvettes. Over 90% indigenous by design, Kavaratti proved to be an ideal platform for testing ERASR’s integration, firing sequence, and underwater strike precision.
Why This Matters for India
This isn’t just another weapons test. The successful trial of ERASR signals a big shift in India’s self-reliance in defense tech:
Made in India: Designed and developed under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative
Power Boost: Strengthens the Navy’s layered anti-submarine defense
Strategic Advantage: Gives India the edge in tracking and destroying enemy submarines before they can pose a threat
Production Ready: Manufacturing partners include Bharat Dynamics Ltd (Hyderabad) and Solar Defence & Aerospace Ltd (Nagpur)
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh called the successful test a “major milestone” and a “boost in the striking power of the Indian Navy.”
What’s Next?
Following these successful user trials, the ERASR system is expected to be inducted into operational service soon. There are also talks of further enhancements in the future — possibly adding advanced guidance systems or integration with acoustic homing capabilities to make it even more deadly against stealth submarines.
Final Thoughts
India is stepping up its underwater warfare game, and ERASR is a strong testament to our growing indigenous defense ecosystem. At a time when regional maritime security is becoming increasingly critical, this homegrown rocket system adds sharp teeth to India’s naval might.
With cutting-edge systems like ERASR, the message is clear: India is ready to defend its waters — on its own terms.
