NEW DELHI: India achieved a major milestone in naval defence with the successful user trials of the indigenously developed Extended Range Anti-Submarine Rocket (ERASR). The trials were carried out on Tuesday from INS Kavaratti, showcasing the growing capabilities of homegrown defence technologies.Defence minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the defence research and development organisation (DRDO), the Navy, and the industry partners involved in developing and testing the rocket. Taking to social media platform X, defence ministry posted, “The User trials of Extended Range Anti-Submarine Rocket (ERASR) have been successfully carried out from INS Kavaratti. Raksha Mantri Shri @rajnathsingh congratulates DRDO, Indian Navy and the Industry involved in development and trials of the System. He has added that the successfully induction of this system will boost the striking power of the Indian Navy.”The ERASR is part of a broader push by the government to enhance self-reliance in the defence sector and reduce dependence on imports. The rocket is designed to improve the Navy’s ability to counter undersea threats more effectively and from longer ranges.On Monday, Rajnath also spoke about the rising global interest in Indian defence equipment following the success of Operation Sindoor.Addressing officials at the controllers’ conference organised by DRDO in New Delhi, he said, “The world is looking towards our Defence sector. The valour that our soldiers have shown during Operation Sindoor, as well as the way we showcased the capabilities of our domestic equipment, has led to an increase in demand for our indigenous defence products. World military expenditure has increased to over USD 2.7 trillion in 2024 – such a big market is awaiting us.”He further highlighted the importance of utilising the defence budget wisely, noting that it is larger than the GDP of some countries. “…If you look at our Defence budget, it’s bigger than the GDP of some countries in the world. When a significant portion of people’s hard-earned income is allocated to the Defence Ministry, our responsibility increases exponentially – we need effective growth. Our Defence expenditure should be such that not only does the budget increase, but also we should utilise it in the right way – by proper deployment at the right time for the right objective,” he said.