On November 16, India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) achieved a significant milestone with the successful flight trial of the country’s first long-range hypersonic missile. According to a press release from the Ministry of Defence (MoD), this advanced missile is designed to carry a variety of payloads over distances exceeding 1,500 kilometers. The testing demonstrated successful terminal maneuvers, with the missile impacting its target with a high degree of accuracy, marking a notable advancement in India’s missile capabilities.
This achievement follows an earlier test on November 12, where DRDO successfully conducted the inaugural flight test of the Long Range Land Attack Cruise Missile (LRLACM) from a mobile articulated launcher. The MoD’s press release indicated that all the missile’s subsystems functioned as anticipated, fulfilling the primary mission objectives and further enhancing confidence in India’s growing missile technology.
Recent reports highlight that both the hypersonic missile, known as Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRAShM), and the LRLACM are poised to complement the supersonic BrahMos missile, which currently serves as the Indian Navy’s primary strike weapon. The capability of these new systems is expected to significantly extend the operational reach of the armed forces, with the LRLACM enabling ground and naval platforms to launch attacks from mobile and stationary launchers.
The hypersonic LRAShM is notable for being the first of its kind in India’s arsenal. Open-source information suggests that this missile features a delta winged body hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) which enhances its maneuverability compared to traditional kill vehicles. The missile is estimated to have a diameter of approximately 1.4 meters, a length of around 14 meters, and a weight of less than 20 tons. Furthermore, it is expected to be launchable from both naval vessels and shore-based installations, thereby providing versatile deployment options across the defense services.
Interestingly, the MoD’s description implies that the hypersonic missile is intended not only for naval operations but also for multi-service applications within the Indian armed forces. Reports indicate that the military is considering developing conventionally armed ballistic missiles with ranges around 1,500 kilometers, which could potentially include an anti-ship variant, thus enhancing India’s maritime defense capabilities.
Meanwhile, the LRLACM, which has garnered official approval and funding from the Defence Acquisition Council, is primarily being developed by the Aeronautical Development Establishment of DRDO. With Bharat Dynamics Limited and Bharat Electronics Limited as Development-Cum-Production-Partners, the LRLACM is configured to launch from land-based mobile platforms as well as from frontline ships utilizing a newly designed universal vertical launch module (UVLM) system. This represents a modernization effort within the Indian Navy, as newer UVLM systems are replacing older Russian launch cells.
Powered by an advanced Small Turbo Fan Engine (STFE) known as Manik, developed by DRDO, the LRLACM is expected to achieve an operational range exceeding 1,000 kilometers. The Indian Air Force and Army have already received Approval of Necessity (AoN) for the procurement of the missile, with substantial budgets allocated for future orders.
Both the LRAShM and LRLACM significantly enhance the Indian Navy’s conventional strike capabilities, allowing for long-range operations that surpass the current BrahMos missile reach, which is also undergoing range expansion efforts. As part of a broader strategy to bolster national security, these missile systems reflect India’s commitment to advancing its defense technology and maintaining a robust military posture in an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape.
