India’s Hypersonic Anti-Ship Missile: New Military Display
- It could be that this weapon combined elements of both weapon categories, acting as a quasi-ballistic missile, but possessing additional glide capabilities and improved maneuverability, while not really...
- India has announced a flight test of the LR-AShM in November 2024.
- "The missile was tracked by various range systems, deployed in several areas," the Indian Defense Ministry said at the time.
India today publicly unveiled what it claims to be its frist long-range hypersonic missile in a show of military might during the country’s 77th Republic Day parade at Kartavya Path in New Delhi. A product of India’s Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), the Long-range anti-Ship Missile (LR-AShM) is seen as a way to help keep pace with similar developments in Pakistan, as well as a way to directly counter China’s ever-growing regional rival surface fleet.
Today in New Delhi, the LR-AShM was demonstrated on its mobile launcher, based on a high mobility 12×12 wheeled truck chassis, on wich it is intended to be deployed by the coastal defense batteries operated by the Indian Navy. each carrier-erector-launcher (TEL) carries a single missile shell in a cylindrical container.
According to the indian Ministry of Defense, the LR-AShM is designed to carry various payloads over distances greater then 1,500 kilometers (930 miles).
Based on open source data, the missile is estimated to be approximately 46 feet long, with a diameter of approximately 4.6 feet and a weight of less than 44,000 pounds.
The Long Range Anti-Ship Hypersonic Missile (LRAShM) made its public debut today during the 77th Republic Day Parade on kartavya Road.
India unveils its first hypersonic missile – the Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRAShM) With a claimed range of over 1,500 kilometers and a speed of Mach 10, this bad boy will be the aircraft carrier killer in the Indian Ocean. Congratulations to @DRDO_Inde! It was easily the…
The missile is powered by a two-stage solid rocket engine. Its final approach to the target is claimed to be at low altitude, to better avoid radars on the ground and on ships, according to Indi
It could be that this weapon combined elements of both weapon categories, acting as a quasi-ballistic missile, but possessing additional glide capabilities and improved maneuverability, while not really meeting the definition of a hypersonic boost-glide vehicle.
India has announced a flight test of the LR-AShM in November 2024. The missile was launched from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha, on the east coast of India.
“The missile was tracked by various range systems, deployed in several areas,” the Indian Defense Ministry said at the time. “Flight data obtained from downstream ship stations confirmed the terminal’s successful maneuvers and impact with a high degree of accuracy. »
The November 2024 test could have been the second for the LR-AShM.
A photo of that test released by the Indian government’s Press Facts Bureau showed the missile and the canister marked “LR-02.” An earlier missile test, in 2023, also involved some sort of long-range anti-ship weapon, possibly also the LR-AShM (which would have been ”LR-01″).
The current status of the LR-AShM is unknown, with media reporting after its November 2024 test noting that “further testing and improvements will be required before the missile is ready for production and deployment.”
The missile was showcased today alongside other high-profile DRDO projects, including the Arjun main battle tank, the Nag anti-tank guided missile and the BrahMos supersonic anti-ship missile, developed in collaboration with russia.
Also meaningful in terms of missile capabilities, New Delhi today also released official images showing Indian Air force assets armed with never-before-seen weapons.
These included a Su-30MKI Flanker armed wit
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The US Navy will begin deploying the Intermediate-Range Conventional Prompt Strike (IRCPS) hypersonic missile, starting with the Zumwalt stealth destroyer. this move comes as several nations are rapidly developing advanced missile technologies, including India and Pakistan.
India’s Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile
India has unveiled its Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LR-AShM), a hypersonic weapon designed to counter enemy naval forces. Sources say the missile offers a quicker “kill chain” against time-sensitive targets and could be adapted for use by the Indian Air force and Army.
The LR-AShM is intended for use against high-value ships like aircraft carriers and cruisers, employing an Anti-Access and Area Denial (A2/AD) strategy similar to China’s. It also possesses potential land-attack capabilities.
Pakistan’s ASBM Development
Pakistan is also advancing its missile capabilities with the development of the anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM) called SMASH. A test flight was conducted in november, and the missile is designed for launch from Pakistani warships. SMASH has an approximate range of 220 miles and can target both sea and land targets.
Hypersonic Advantages
The LR-AShM’s high speed, combined with its warhead’s kinetic energy, makes it a potent anti-ship weapon capable of penetrating a vessel’s defenses. While offering advantages over existing missiles like the BrahMos in terms of speed and range, the brahmos maintains adaptability with its multiple launch options.
India’s development of these advanced missiles demonstrates a commitment to strengthening its naval and strategic capabilities and reducing the gap with its military rivals.