India Unveils Indigenous 1,500 km Hypersonic Anti-Ship Missile, Strengthening Maritime Strike Capability
India Unveils Indigenous 1,500 km Hypersonic Anti-Ship Missile, Strengthening Maritime Strike Capability
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| A hypersonic anti-ship missile developed by India is shown in flight over the Indian Ocean during a conceptual illustration, underscoring the country’s growing long-range maritime strike and deterrence capabilities. |
New Delhi |
January 2026
India has unveiled a new indigenous hypersonic anti-ship missile with an estimated
range of up to 1,500 kilometres,
marking a significant leap in the country’s long-range maritime strike and
deterrence capabilities. The system, officially known as the Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRAShM),
represents one of the most advanced weapon platforms developed under India’s
expanding hypersonic weapons programme.
The missile was publicly showcased during
India’s 77th Republic Day celebrations,
drawing attention from defence analysts and international observers alike. Its
debut signals India’s growing confidence in indigenous high-end defence
technologies and reinforces its strategic focus on securing the Indian Ocean
Region amid evolving regional security dynamics.
A Major
Step in India’s Hypersonic Weapons Programme
The LRAShM has been developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation
(DRDO) as part of India’s broader effort to master hypersonic flight
and precision strike technologies. Hypersonic weapons, which travel at speeds
exceeding Mach 5, are widely
regarded as a game-changing military capability due to their speed,
maneuverability, and ability to evade modern missile defence systems.
Unlike conventional cruise missiles, the
LRAShM uses a boost-glide hypersonic
architecture, combining extreme speed with a non-ballistic,
maneuverable flight profile. This allows the missile to strike high-value naval
targets at long distances while significantly reducing the defender’s response
time.
Defence officials have described the missile
as a key component of India’s future anti-access
and area denial (A2/AD) strategy, particularly in maritime
environments.
Designed
for Long-Range Maritime Strike
The primary role of the LRAShM is to
neutralize enemy warships,
including large surface combatants and aircraft carrier groups, well beyond the
horizon. With a range of approximately 1,500
km, the missile enables India to engage hostile naval forces far from
its coastline, enhancing both deterrence and sea-control capabilities.
The missile’s hypersonic speed dramatically
shortens engagement timelines, making interception by existing naval air
defence systems extremely challenging. In modern naval warfare, where layered
missile defences are central to fleet protection, such high-speed threats are
considered particularly difficult to counter.
Military analysts note that the LRAShM could
significantly alter naval operational planning in the Indian Ocean by forcing
adversaries to operate at greater distances or invest heavily in new defensive
technologies.
Hypersonic
Boost-Glide Technology
At the core of the LRAShM is a hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) mounted
atop a powerful solid-fuel booster. After launch, the booster accelerates the
missile to hypersonic speeds and releases the glide vehicle at high altitude.
The glide vehicle then travels toward its target along a controlled,
aerodynamic trajectory.
This design offers several advantages:
·
Extreme
speed, reducing reaction and interception time
·
High
maneuverability, enabling evasive flight paths
·
Lower
predictability compared to ballistic trajectories
The missile is launched from a sealed canister system, improving storage
life, mobility, and operational readiness. Cold-launch technology ensures the
missile is safely ejected before the main propulsion system ignites.
Advanced
Aerodynamics and Guidance Systems
The hypersonic glide body features a delta-shaped aerodynamic design
optimized for sustained hypersonic flight. Small control surfaces allow the
missile to maneuver during the terminal phase, complicating tracking and
interception efforts.
While detailed guidance systems remain
classified, defence sources indicate the missile relies on a combination of:
·
Inertial
navigation systems
·
Satellite-based
updates
·
Advanced
terminal guidance suitable for moving naval targets
Such systems are critical for long-range
anti-ship missions, where targets may change position between launch and
impact.
Multi-Platform
Potential
Although initially envisioned as a land-based coastal defence and strike weapon,
the LRAShM is expected to evolve into a multi-platform system. Future
deployment concepts reportedly include:
·
Ship-based
launch systems for surface combatants
·
Air-launched
variants for extended strike reach
·
Potential
submarine integration for stealth-based deterrence
This flexibility would allow the missile to be
integrated across multiple branches of the armed forces, enhancing
joint-operations capability.
Strategic
Impact on Maritime Deterrence
The unveiling of the LRAShM significantly
strengthens India’s maritime deterrence posture. The Indian Ocean is a vital
corridor for global trade and energy flows, and India’s ability to protect sea
lanes is central to its national security strategy.
With increasing naval activity by multiple
regional and extra-regional powers, long-range precision strike capabilities
are becoming increasingly important. Hypersonic anti-ship missiles such as the
LRAShM provide a powerful tool to deter hostile naval deployments and protect strategic
interests.
Defence analysts emphasize that even a limited
deployment of such weapons can have a disproportionate strategic effect by
altering adversary calculations and operational planning.
Supporting
India’s Strategic Autonomy
The LRAShM also reflects India’s continued
push toward defence self-reliance.
Developing hypersonic technologies requires advanced materials science,
precision manufacturing, and sophisticated guidance systems — capabilities that
only a handful of nations currently possess.
By mastering these technologies domestically,
India reduces dependence on foreign suppliers and enhances its strategic
autonomy. The missile’s development aligns closely with national objectives to
build a robust indigenous defence industrial base capable of supporting
long-term security requirements.
Comparison
with Existing Missile Systems
India already operates a range of advanced
missile systems, including supersonic cruise missiles that form the backbone of
its maritime strike capability. However, hypersonic systems represent a
qualitative leap.
Compared to supersonic weapons, hypersonic
missiles offer:
·
Much
higher speeds
·
Greater
survivability against air defence
·
Longer
engagement ranges
·
Enhanced
deterrence value
The LRAShM complements existing systems rather
than replacing them, providing commanders with a broader range of operational
options.
Global
Hypersonic Arms Race
India’s progress comes amid a global race to
develop and deploy hypersonic weapons. Major military powers are investing
heavily in similar technologies, recognizing their potential to reshape modern
warfare.
The spread of hypersonic capabilities is
expected to influence future naval doctrines, missile defence investments, and
strategic stability, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region.
India’s entry into this elite group
underscores its emergence as a technologically capable military power with
growing influence in regional security affairs.
Future
Outlook
Defence officials have indicated that the
LRAShM is part of a broader roadmap that includes longer-range hypersonic
systems and sustained hypersonic cruise missile projects. Continued testing and
refinement are expected before the missile enters full operational service.
As development progresses, the system is
likely to undergo multiple iterations to enhance range, accuracy, and platform
compatibility.
Conclusion
The unveiling of India’s 1,500 km hypersonic anti-ship missile
marks a watershed moment in the country’s defence modernization journey.
Combining speed, range, and maneuverability, the LRAShM significantly enhances
India’s ability to deter and counter maritime threats in an increasingly
contested strategic environment.
With this milestone, India joins a select
group of nations capable of developing advanced hypersonic strike weapons,
reinforcing its position as a major player in future naval and missile warfare.
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