Actually it can be done via specific programmed control actuation engagement that shape trajectory accordingly and fly in a different path than the expected ballistic minimum energy elliptical/parabolic path all while being guided. Old days there was no datalink provision, so the trajectory was programmed offline put into the missile obc and then the missile is tracked after launched to see if all phases of flight happens as per programming. Any deviation found needed again program code correction of the specific constraints at the specific point.
lower payload, anti ship 200kg class and you get a decent range out of it. Anyway navy has interesting stuff done in house so we will never be able to second guess them.
Was always prepared/deployed in primary land attack role , but if needed maybe the anti ship is for attacking ships tied in the harbour or fuel delivery ship/cargo ship that are large in size and rather static comparatively. Guidance you can probably deploy a strap down temporary jugaad or provide via other means, I am not sure. It is quite obvious that since OPV class boat was used as launcher, the entire system was somewhat makeshift that pays good dividend during wartime in a Karachi Port attack kind of mission. Dr Saraswat also hinted before the makeshift launchpad was a choice that you can deploy at a short notice, it bypasses enemy recon effort thereby increase the surprise potential much more than a missile attack ship. A very practical thinking I have to say if it were indeed so.
Ship to anti ship role.
My mistake. I quoted wrong information. Any anti ship missile should have 1 m cep
I was just about to post these, thanks for doing it already, however mandatory caution, do not take these numbers from any of these slides super seriously,
Afaik, Prithvi family missiles didn't get a seeker until the PAD interceptor came along in around 2005. That missile carried our first gen ARH seeker (miniaturized mmr derivative from LCA prog).
Some reports of a conventional tipped Agni 5 type missile which can penetrate over 100 meters.
Other ones are debatable, but this part of common MRSAM 70 km vs LRSAM IAC 100km part is likely true and can be done with specific trajectory optimisation work via specific program based control. Basically it will be computation exhaustive, multiple pre programmed model will provide the control algo for the missile and given IAC are high value strategic asset it needed a better version installed (since Kusha is not ready yet).
The point of "Anti-ship" is identifying the ship during terminal phase, none of this. We definitely didn't have such technology during the Dhanush era.
DRDL made dual pulse motor achieved 90km a long back.
I mean from a practical perspective , anti ship role can also be hitting a large container ship that is either slow moving or anchor dropped just outside a harbour, with precious enemy cargo in it (oil, steel, anything vital for wartime use). So technically such a ship hit would still be classified as anti ship mission but given it is a very large ship a larger payload can be used with Dhanush from a makeshift setup platform. Basically the sort of stuff houthis were doing. With correct guidance mechanism such a mission can be pulled off during wartime without exposing capital warships for such secondary role. Those ships can do other mission like hitting port infra or tackling enemy warship.
But dhanush from what I know were for nuclear role.
It is up to the user to decide . My point is that such a limited anti ship side mission is also possible to do by Dhanush due to 500kg class payload and high impact energy. Very good accuracy is needed and a careful planning of mission can be done by the mission command by using less suspecting secondary surface ship. Its a very good jugaad option that can catch enemy by surprise.
It can.
