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At this year’s Republic Day Parade, India will unveil the Defence Research and Development Organisation’s Long Range Anti-Ship Hypersonic Missile (LR-AShM) along with its launcher, developed for the Indian Navy. The missile system has been designed to meet the Navy’s coastal battery requirements, thereby strengthening maritime strike capability.
The LR-AShM is a hypersonic glide missile capable of engaging both static and moving targets at sea. It has been designed to carry different payloads and is equipped with indigenous avionics and sensor systems. DRDO officials said the missile is a first-of-its-kind system developed using domestic technologies.
According to DRDO, the missile follows a quasi-ballistic trajectory and achieves hypersonic speeds. It reaches speeds of up to Mach 10 during flight, with an average speed of around Mach 5. The missile performs multiple skips as it glides through the atmosphere.
Indigenously developed sensors guide the missile during the terminal phase, allowing it to engage moving targets. The missile flies at low altitude, at high speed and with high manoeuvrability, making detection by enemy ground- and ship-based radars difficult for most of its trajectory.
The LR-AShM uses a two-stage solid propulsion rocket motor. The first stage separates after burnout, while the second stage accelerates the missile to the required hypersonic velocity. After the second stage burns out, the missile enters an unpowered glide phase, performing manoeuvres before striking the target.
DRDO will also showcase a tableau at Bharat Parv at the Red Fort from January 26 to January 31. The tableau’s theme is ‘Naval Technologies for Combat Submarines’, focusing on indigenously developed systems for the Indian Navy’s conventional submarines.
Key systems on display will include the Integrated Combat Suite (ICS), the Wire Guided Heavy Weight Torpedo (WGHWT), and the Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) system. These technologies are intended to enhance underwater combat capability and operational endurance.
The Integrated Combat Suite is a next-generation submarine-based system designed to improve situational awareness and support tactical decision-making. It assists in threat assessment, weapon selection, launch, and guidance. The system has been developed through a collaborative effort involving eight DRDO laboratories and around 150 industry partners and MSMEs.
The Wire Guided Heavy Weight Torpedo is a submarine-launched weapon designed to counter both surface ships and submarines. It is a key component of anti-submarine warfare. It is intended to meet the Indian Navy’s requirement for an indigenous heavyweight torpedo with high speed and endurance as the submarine fleet expands.
The Air Independent Propulsion system enables submarines to remain submerged for longer durations, enhancing stealth. The system uses phosphoric acid fuel cells with an onboard hydrogen generator to produce power silently. The modular design allows it to be adapted for future submarine platforms.
Several other DRDO-developed platforms will also be displayed during the Republic Day Parade at Kartavya Path. These include the Arjun Main Battle Tank, BrahMos missile, Akash air defence system, Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System, Nag Missile System (NAMIS-II), Battlefield Surveillance Radar, and Anti-Tank Guided Missiles.
The displays are expected to highlight India’s focus on indigenous defence technologies across land, sea, and air domains.
Team BharatShakti
