Navy ships test readiness for long-range precision strikes

The Navy on Sunday said its warships undertook successful multiple anti-ship firings to revalidate and demonstrate readiness of platforms, systems and crew for long-range precision offensive strikes.

The demonstration of the Navy’s combat prowess came amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan over the Pahalgam terror attack.

The Navy emphasised its combat readiness, asserting that it remains credible and future-ready in safeguarding the nation’s maritime interests. Images and videos of multiple missile salvos at sea were also released by the Navy.

The aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, is already deployed at sea. The Navy’s warships are equipped with two versions of the BrahMos missile capable of striking land targets. One version has a range of approximately 300 km, while the extended range variant can hit targets nearly 500 km away.

The range of the BrahMos missile was enhanced after India joined the 34-nation Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) in June 2016. Prior to India’s membership, the Russian technology behind the BrahMos was restricted, as the MTCR limits the export of missile technology capable of travelling beyond 300 km. The MTCR, established in 1987, includes Russia, the US and its NATO allies, as well as countries like Japan and Australia.

The threat posed by the Indian Navy is well-recognised by Pakistan. During the 1971 India-Pakistan war, the Navy executed a bold sea-based attack on the Karachi harbour. On the eastern front, Pakistani submarine PNS Ghazi was sunk off the coast of Vishakapatnam. It was tasked with shadowing the Indian aircraft carrier in the Bay of Bengal.

India