Why in News
DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) conducted the Phase-II flight trial of India’s indigenously developed Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LR-AShM) from the Odisha coast into the Bay of Bengal. The missile — a boost-glide hypersonic system — reportedly struck its designated naval target at a range of approximately 1,500 km at initial speeds of up to Mach 10. The test advances India’s indigenously developed long-range maritime strike capability under the AtmaNirbhar Bharat defence programme. [Note: Based on available reporting; PIB press release on Phase-II had not been issued at publication time.]
What Is LR-AShM?
LR-AShM stands for Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile — India’s most ambitious indigenously developed naval strike weapon. It is designed to:
- Target adversary surface vessels (aircraft carrier battle groups, destroyers, amphibious vessels) at ranges well beyond existing BrahMos capability
- Defeat carrier-based air defence through hypersonic speeds and manoeuvring glide phase
- Complement India’s A2/AD strategy in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) to deter Chinese naval power projection
Technical Characteristics (from available reporting)
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Range | ~1,500 km |
| Speed (boost phase) | Up to Mach 10 |
| Speed (glide phase) | Mach 5+ (hypersonic) |
| Guidance | Terminal active radar seeker + inertial mid-course guidance |
| Launch platform | Surface-to-surface (naval vessel or shore-based) |
| Warhead | Conventional (HE, penetrator) |
| Design | Boost-glide — rocket boost then atmospheric glide trajectory |
| Phase-I tests | 2023 and November 2024 |
Hypersonic Weapons — Key Concepts
What Makes a Weapon “Hypersonic”?
A weapon is classified as hypersonic if it travels at Mach 5 or above (five times the speed of sound — approximately 6,125 km/h at sea level). The LR-AShM achieves Mach 10 in its boost phase, making it one of the fastest anti-ship weapons if confirmed.
Two Types of Hypersonic Weapons
| Type | Description | India’s Example |
|---|---|---|
| Hypersonic Glide Vehicle (HGV) | Launched on a ballistic trajectory, then glides at hypersonic speed using aerodynamic lift; highly manoeuvrable | LR-AShM (boost-glide design) |
| Hypersonic Cruise Missile (HCM) | Uses scramjet (supersonic combustion ramjet) to sustain hypersonic speeds through the entire flight | DRDO’s Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV) — successfully tested 2020 |
India’s Missile Programme — Key Systems
Anti-Ship Missiles
| Missile | Type | Range | Developer |
|---|---|---|---|
| BrahMos | Supersonic cruise missile | 290–800 km (extended range) | DRDO + Russia (NPO Mashinostroyeniya) |
| BrahMos-II (Hypersonic) | Hypersonic (Mach 7+) | 300 km | Under development |
| LR-AShM | Boost-glide hypersonic | ~1,500 km | DRDO (indigenous) |
Hypersonic Programme Milestones
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| HSTDV (Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle) successful test | September 7, 2020 |
| LR-AShM Phase-I tests | 2023 and November 2024 |
| LR-AShM Phase-II test | ~May 1, 2026 (from Odisha coast) |
Strategic Significance
Anti-Access/Area-Denial (A2/AD)
India’s LR-AShM serves as a cornerstone of its maritime A2/AD strategy — the ability to deny adversary naval forces (particularly Chinese carrier battle groups) freedom of manoeuvre in the Indian Ocean Region. A 1,500 km strike range covers:
- The entire Bay of Bengal
- Most of the northern Indian Ocean
- Potential operating areas for PLAN (People’s Liberation Army Navy) carrier groups
Deterrence vs. China’s IOR Expansion
China’s String of Pearls — naval access agreements and infrastructure in Gwadar (Pakistan), Hambantota (Sri Lanka), Kyaukpyu (Myanmar), and Djibouti — has created a network of bases surrounding India’s maritime periphery. A hypersonic anti-ship missile that can strike at 1,500 km significantly complicates Chinese naval planning in the IOR.
DRDO’s Indigenisation Drive
The LR-AShM is part of DRDO’s post-Galwan acceleration — alongside the MPATGM (Man-Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile), QRSAM (Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile), Pralay (quasi-ballistic missile), and the Agni-V MIRV test (March 2024). All represent India’s shift from import-dependence toward self-reliance in critical defence systems.
UPSC Relevance
| Paper | Angle |
|---|---|
| GS3 — Science & Technology | Hypersonic technology, DRDO, indigenous defence, BrahMos, A2/AD systems |
| GS3 — Security & Defence | India’s maritime strategy, IOR, China’s String of Pearls, naval balance |
| GS2 — International Relations | India-China maritime competition, Indo-Pacific security architecture |
Mains Keywords: DRDO, LR-AShM, hypersonic, boost-glide, anti-ship missile, A2/AD (Anti-Access/Area-Denial), Indian Ocean Region, String of Pearls, BrahMos, HSTDV, AtmaNirbhar Bharat defence, Scramjet, Mach 5
Prelims Facts Corner
| Item | Fact |
|---|---|
| LR-AShM | Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (DRDO indigenous) |
| Design type | Boost-glide hypersonic |
| Range | ~1,500 km |
| Speed | Mach 10 (boost phase) |
| Tested from | Odisha coast (Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island range) |
| HSTDV | Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle — tested Sept 7, 2020 |
| BrahMos | India-Russia jointly developed supersonic cruise missile (up to 800 km) |
| Hypersonic definition | Mach 5+ (≥6,125 km/h at sea level) |
| A2/AD | Anti-Access/Area-Denial — strategy to deny adversary freedom of maritime manoeuvre |
