Long Range Anti-Ship Hypersonic Missile (LR-AShM)

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) showcased several advanced indigenous defence technologies during the 77th Republic Day Parade at Kartavya Path, underlining India’s growing self-reliance in critical military capabilities.

Key Highlights: LR-AShM and Naval Technologies Tableau
Among the prominent systems displayed were:

• The Long Range Anti-Ship Hypersonic Missile (LR-AShM) along with its launcher
• A DRDO tableau themed ‘Naval Technologies for Combat Submarines’, highlighting cutting-edge undersea warfare capabilities

LR-AShM: Major Milestone in Hypersonic Weapons Programme
The LR-AShM was presented as a major milestone in India’s hypersonic weapons development. Designed to meet the coastal battery requirements of the Indian Navy, the missile significantly enhances India’s maritime strike and sea-denial capabilities.

Advanced Capabilities of LR-AShM

• Hypersonic glide missile capable of engaging both static and moving targets
• Designed to carry multiple types of payloads
• Features fully indigenous avionics and high-accuracy sensor packages, making it a first-of-its-kind system
• Follows a quasi-ballistic trajectory

Speed, Accuracy and Survivability
The missile achieves hypersonic speeds starting at Mach 10, maintaining an average speed of around Mach 5.0 through multiple atmospheric skips during flight.

• Indigenously developed sensors enable precise engagement of moving targets in the terminal phase
• Low-altitude flight profile, combined with high speed and manoeuvrability, makes detection by enemy ground-based and ship-borne radars extremely difficult
• These features ensure high survivability and lethality

Two-Stage Propulsion and Flight Profile
The LR-AShM employs a two-stage solid propulsion rocket motor system:

• Stage I accelerates the missile to the required hypersonic velocity and then separates
• Stage II further boosts the missile before burnout
• After Stage II burnout, the vehicle enters an unpowered hypersonic glide phase, executing atmospheric manoeuvres before striking the target