She was fitted for, but not with four additional 16-cell lightweight VLS, to be mounted forward abreast of the main ASTER launcher. This VLS could hold either VL Mica close defence SAMs (Range 12 nm, capable of engaging supersonic sea-skimmers like Oniks/BrahMos) or wire-guided Polyphem lightweight antisurface missiles for dealing with threats up to 32 nm out and not worthy of spending an ANS on them; they also had loitering capability and could double as short-range surveillance drones.
32 nautical mile range for a
wire guided missile? Is it really possible to use a wire that long?