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Type 45 destroyers, the U.K. will Russia is investing in improved the SM-3 Block IIA, a mid-course
evaluate the introduction of the NT shipborne air-defence capabili- ballistic missile interceptor and the
missile to the Sea Viper. ties as well. At the World Defense U.S. Navy’s primary BMD weapon,
Show 2024 in Saudi Arabia earlier and SM-6 missiles for air and ballis-
this year, the Russia-based Almaz tic missile defence against various
Making a Mark – Antey Air and Space Defence threats. The SM-6 is a key element

Raytheon’s portfolio of ship self-de- Corporation unveiled the upgraded as it provides not only anti-air and
fence weapons includes SeaRAM, Russian Komar 3M47-03E ship- anti-ship capabilities for self-de-
which defeats supersonic and based missile system that can fence but also terminal ballistic
subsonic threats including cruise thwart not only air attack weapons missile defence capabilities.
missiles, drones and helicopters. but also unmanned surface vehi-
Modelled after the Phalanx weapon cles. The system, equipped with According to reports, the vessels
system, it replaces the 20 mm both Igla-S MANPADS missiles will also be equipped with a newer
Gatlin gun with a launcher that pin- and Ataka missiles, can be easily version of the Type 12 anti-ship
points its target and fires up to 11 installed on ships and boats with a missile. In the early part of the next
RAM missiles. The U.S. Navy uses displacement of 50 tons and more. decade, the ASEVs are slated to
the company’s SM-3 interceptor to receive a high-power laser weapon,
destroy short- to intermediate-range Japan is Prepared primarily for use against hostile
ballistic missiles. The ESSM missile drones, and the Raytheon-made
is an intermediate-range guided In September 2022, Japan’s Tomahawk cruise missile. The
missile that protects against cruise Ministry of Defence announced Tomahawk, which can strike targets
missiles, helicopters, and other that it would build a pair of ballistic precisely from 1,000 miles away,
ships. missile defence ships. After ini- launches from ships, submarines,
tially opting for purpose-built BMD and ground launchers. The service
In August this year, the Israel vessels, the Japan Maritime Self- currently has eight JMSDF Aegis
Defence Forces (IDF) Navy, in col- Defense Force (JMSDF) has now destroyers, comprising two Maya–
laboration with the Israeli Ministry decided on multi-role Aegis system class, two Atago-class and four
of Defence and Israel Aerospace equipped vessels with a cruiser-like Kongo-class destroyers.
Industries (IAI), successfully com- design. The JMSDF is expected to
pleted a test of the Barak MX air receive the first AESV in 2027, with Looking Inward
defence system with LRAD long- the second vessel to follow the next
range interceptor. The system, a year. While one of the ships will be Japan is not the only country
key component of the Sa’ar 6-class built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, looking at its domestic defence
missile ships, detected, tracked, the other will be built by Japan industry for solutions. In March this
and classified the incoming rocket Marine United Corp year, India’s Ministry of Defence
as a threat, before intercepting and (MoD) signed a Rs 988.07 crore
destroying it. Barak MX’s radar is According to the Japanese Ministry contract with BrahMos Aerospace
capable of detecting and classifying of Defence, the new ASEVs will Private Limited (BAPL) for a ship-
threats ranging from aircraft and be around 620 feet long, with a borne BrahMos system for the
unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to beam of 82 feet, and a standard Indian Navy. The system, which
cruise missiles, ballistic threats, and displacement of 12,000 tons. The is capable of hitting land or sea
coastal dangers. ships’ weapons system will include targets at supersonic speeds with
pinpoint accuracy, will be deployed
on various frontline warships and
will be the primary weapon for the
service’s maritime strike operations.
The service has a range of other
systems to counter aerial attacks,
such as the Medium Range Surface
Air Missile (MR-SAM), Long Range
Surface Air Missile (LR-SAM) sys-
tems, and the VSHORADS system
to defeat threats like loitering
munitions.

In April 2023, India announced the
successful test of a naval Ballistic
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