1. Come to think of it, the SMART system is possibly an Indian carrier-killer using an approach very different from what the Chinese have done with the DF-21D.
2. Instead of the DF-21D's terminal guidance which homes in on an enemy aircraft carrier before engaging in exceptionally complex end-stage manoeuvring against a moving target, this missile - which is essentially the Shourya with a torpedo payload uses a more pragmatic approach.
3. The SMART system flies out to close to 2000 kms in the direction of an enemy carrier or fleet, it drops its torpedo payload which then loiters till it picks up its target and engages.
4. Detection of enemy carriers and ships increasingly comes to the Indian Navy on a real-time basis from maritime partners such as the US and India's own oceanic surveillance satellites. Finer targeting solutions come from P-8s which are vulerable to interception.
5. Net-net, I see this as an Indian carrier killer more than an ultra-long range anti-submarine weapon system.
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