Navy to Procure Land Attack Cruise Missiles for Submarines

By
Ravi Shankar
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DRDO SLCM
Submarine-launched cruise missiles (SLCM) capable of engaging land-based targets with high accuracy

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has initiated the process to arm conventional submarines with Land Attack Cruise Missiles (LACMs) to bolster the force’s long-range precision-strike capability.
A Request for Information (RFI) issued by the MoD outlines the Indian Navy’s requirement for submarine-launched cruise missiles (SLCM) capable of engaging land-based targets with high accuracy. The move signals a push to deepen the Navy’s undersea deterrence and expand its options for conventional long-range strikes.

The RFI does not specify the number of missiles to be acquired. Vendors have been asked to state whether the same or similar systems are currently in service or being supplied to other customers.

Under existing procurement rules, the contract will carry a 30 per cent offset obligation, requiring selected vendors to invest a portion of the contract value back into India’s defence ecosystem.

According to the specifications, the missile, including its launch capsule, must weigh less than 1,500 kg and have a strike range of 50 km to 500 km. It must be capable of being launched from a standard 533-mm torpedo tube using guide rails. The overall length of the missile is capped at 6.4 metres.

The system should support launches from periscope depth, between 15 and 100 metres, with the submarine travelling at up to 6 knots in normal conditions and up to 8 knots during emergency ejection.

The Navy has also specified that the submarine must be able to fire two missiles in quick succession without interference between their homing systems.

Operational resilience is a key requirement. The missile must withstand submarine roll and pitch of up to 45 degrees for 8 to 10 seconds. Targeting will be based on geographic coordinates, and the system must remain effective in dense electronic warfare environments.

The warhead is to be an insensitive high-explosive type, either unitary or with submunitions, designed for airburst and prefragmented effects. The RFI stipulates a minimum reliability level of 0.99 for the warhead.

The selected manufacturer will also be required to provide a clear upgrade roadmap for at least 25 years, ensuring long-term sustainment and capability enhancement.

The proposed induction of LACMs is expected to significantly enhance the Navy’s ability to hold high-value land targets at risk from undersea platforms, adding a potent conventional strike dimension to India’s maritime posture.

Ravi Shankar

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Dr Ravi Shankar has over two decades of experience in communications, print journalism, electronic media, documentary film making and new media.
He makes regular appearances on national television news channels as a commentator and analyst on current and political affairs. Apart from being an acknowledged Journalist, he has been a passionate newsroom manager bringing a wide range of journalistic experience from past associations with India’s leading media conglomerates (Times of India group and India Today group) and had led global news-gathering operations at world’s biggest multimedia news agency- ANI-Reuters. He has covered Parliament extensively over the past several years. Widely traveled, he has covered several summits as part of media delegation accompanying the Indian President, Vice President, Prime Minister, External Affairs Minister and Finance Minister across Asia, Africa and Europe.

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