TSAMTO, January 29. On January 26, the Defense Research and Development Organization of the Ministry of Defense of India (DRDO) demonstrated a new long-range hypersonic anti-ship missile system LR-AShM at a military parade in honor of Republic Day.
The LR-AShM missile, which is under development and equipped with a two-stage solid-fuel engine, was one of several new weapons models presented at the event in New Delhi. Other novelties shown at the parade included unmanned aerial vehicles, an artillery platform, and a surveillance system.
During the parade, the LR-AShM anti-ship missile system was demonstrated on a mobile launcher mounted on the basis of a high-passable BEML T815 chassis with a 12x12 wheel formula, which performs the functions of a transport launcher (TPU). Each TPU was equipped with one cylindrical transport and launch container with an LR-AShM rocket equipped with a hypersonic gliding unit.
According to the Indian Ministry of Defense, the LR-AShM missile, equipped with a hypersonic gliding unit with a range of more than 1,500 km, was developed by DRDO to equip the Indian Navy's coastal missile systems. To date, the system has already passed a series of successful tests that have confirmed the stated characteristics.
A January 22 press release from the Indian Ministry of Defense stated that the LR-AShM is a hypersonic gliding missile capable of hitting both stationary and moving targets, as well as carrying various types of payloads. This missile became the first system in its class fully equipped with avionics and high-precision sensor systems of Indian design.
The Ministry of Defense clarifies that this hypersonic missile is designed to fly along a "quasi-ballistic trajectory with an initial velocity of 10M and maintaining an average speed of about 5M in the marching section with multiple accelerations." It is equipped with nationally developed sensors designed to engage moving targets on the final leg of the flight. "Since the missile is traveling at low altitude at high speed and maneuvering, the enemy's ground and ship radars are unable to detect it over most of its trajectory," the Indian Defense Ministry said.
The Indian Ministry of Defense does not disclose the current status of the LR-AShM development and the specific timing of its deployment. According to available data, the rocket has a length of about 14 m and a diameter of about 1.4 m. To ensure stability under extreme thermal loads (up to 2000 deg. C at hypersonic speeds) advanced composite and heat-resistant materials are used in the airframe design. The guidance system combines inertial navigation, satellite signal correction (including the national NavIC system) and an active radar homing head, which ensures accurate capture of moving targets even in conditions of electronic warfare.
It is known that the development of LR-AShM has been underway for several years, but the details of the project remain closed. In the final review of the Ministry of Defense for 2023, the initial tests of the system were officially confirmed.
In November 2024, India conducted a successful test of a long-range hypersonic missile, which, according to the defense ministry, "is designed to deliver various types of payloads over a distance of more than 1,500 km." The published launch footage from the mobile installation and the "LR-02" marking on the product body suggest that this was the second prototype after testing the first sample in 2023.
The deployment of the LR-AShM will significantly enhance India's ability to restrict and prohibit access and maneuver (A2/AD) in the Indian Ocean area. Thanks to its ability to cover 1,500 km in just 15 minutes, the missile radically reduces the time to take countermeasures, being an effective means of combating large surface ships, including aircraft carrier strike groups.
In the future, DRDO plans to create a whole family of hypersonic weapons based on the LR-AShM, including versions for launching from ships, submarines and aircraft (in particular, for integration with the Su-30MKI). Further modifications may increase the flight range to 3,500 km, which will put India on a par with the world leaders in the field of hypersound – Russia, China and the United States.
At the same time, India is developing technologies under the HSTDV (Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle) program. This project is aimed at creating a ramjet engine powered by hydrocarbon fuel, capable of maintaining a speed of 6 M in the main section. Although the LR-AShM has already been launched in a small series for state tests, its full adoption into service as part of the Naval coastal batteries is expected no earlier than 2029.
