Sea Eagle AShM

SEA EAGLE AShM

The Sea Eagle AShM is a computer-controlled, all-weather, fire & forget, sea skimming missile. The missile has an active radar target seeker and its long range allows a covert approach by the launch aircraft. The propulsion system, a TRI 60 turbojet engine from Microturbo, provides a speed of Mach 1.1+ with a 110 km range. After launch, the missile is autonomous, its trajectory & homing being controlled by on-board computers. An onboard computer control unit provides an over-the-horizon capability. The control and guidance system is an inertial navigation system with active radar homing.

An IAF Jaguar IM (JM252) with a Sea Eagle AShM (training round) under the fuselage

Launched in air, the Sea Eagle AShM is carried by the Indian Navy's Sea Harrier Frs Mk.51 and the Sea King Mk.42B helicopter and also on the IAF's Jaguar IM. On 24 April 1997, the Sea Eagle successfully struck a decommissioned vessel of the Indian Navy (the Niligiri) during a live target exercise. The missile was fired from a Sea Harrier Frs Mk.51. In June 2000, the Sea Eagle successfully struck another decommissioned vessel of the Indian Navy (the Hosdurg) during a live target exercise. On this occasion, the missile was fired from a Jaguar IM. With the Sea Eagle AShM being retired from service from the Royal Navy, the Indian Navy and Air Force have also followed suit and has examined various Russian anti-ship missiles for viable replacements and it appears that the 3M-24E AShM is the most likely replacement.