Long Range – Anti Ship Missile (India)

Indian long range anti-ship hypersonic missile

LRAShM

Type| Hypersonic anti-ship missile, Medium range ballistic missile
Place of origin| India
Service history
In service| Developmental trials
Used by| Integrated Rocket Force, Indian Navy (intended)
Production history
Designer| Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Missile Complex (DRDO)
Specifications
Mass| <20 t (20 long tons; 22 short tons)
Length| 14 m (45 ft 11 in)
Diameter| 1.4 m (4 ft 7 in)
Warhead| Hypersonic glide vehicle

* * *

Operational
range

| >1,500 kilometres (930 mi)
Maximum speed | >Mach 6[1]

Launch
platform

| Transporter erector launcher, Vertical launching system (Warships)

The Long Range – Anti Ship Missile (LRAShM) is part of a broader hypersonic missile development programme undertaken by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) of India for the Indian Armed Forces. The speed of a ballistic missile and the maneuverability of a cruise missile are combined in LRAShM. In order to target and destroy enemy warships with precision strikes at a greater distance, a naval version of the missile is currently under development.[2]

The first variant being developed is the anti-ship variant for the Indian Navy and can be launched from shore-based transporter erector launcher (TEL) as well as warship-based vertical launching system (VLS). Further land-based variants of the missile will also be developed for use by other branches of the Armed Forces. This will be a Medium-Range Ballistic Missile (MRBM) and deployed as a part of Integrated Rocket Force.[3][4]

## History

[edit]

The study and advancement on hypersonic systems began from 2007. According to A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, who spoke at the Defence Research and Development Organization Directors Conference on February 21, 2007, one of the defense systems that will be required over the next 15 years is hypersonic weaponry.[5] Meanwhile, BrahMos Aerospace's hypersonic missile program is anticipated to develop the BrahMos-II, based on the Russian 3M22 Zircon.

The United States' unpredictable sanctions on other countries have the potential to impede the development of BrahMos-II, thus India launched an independent program to develop hypersonic weapons capabilities.

The Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV), which DRDO began developing in 2008, aims to demonstrate scramjet capability at up to 20 km altitude. Scientists and engineers agree that discussing Mach values up to 30 km in height makes sense, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).[6][7]

In February 2024, IIT Kanpur built and evaluated the Hypervelocity Expansion Tunnel Test Facility, referred to as S2, in the Department of Aerospace Engineering's Hypersonic Experimental Aerodynamics Laboratory (HEAL). ballistic missile launches, scramjet flights, and extreme hypersonic conditions of atmospheric entry can all be replicated at the S2 facility. It is anticipated that the facility will support ISRO and DRDO's Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle, RLV Technology Demonstration Program, and Gaganyaan.[8] The 2020 test of HSTDV validated aerodynamic configuration of vehicle, ignition and sustained combustion of scramjet engine at hypersonic flow, separation mechanisms and characterised thermo-structural materials.[9][10]

## Development

[edit]

India has developed several series of ballistic missiles for the three services. Land-based nuclear-capable ballisitic missiles have a range of up to 5,000 km (3,100 mi) whereas their sea-based counterparts have a range of up to 3,500 km (2,200 mi). This includes Pralay, Prithvi series, Agni series and the K series of missiles. However, most of these long-range missiles features nuclear warheads expect for the Pralay missile which has a conventional warhead option but a limited range of up to 500 km (310 mi) and is designed for major tactical conventional strikes. Hence, the need was felt to develop a conventional warhead-equipped ballistic missile with a range of over 1,500 km (930 mi).[11][12]

In September 2022, reports revealed that Defence Research and Development Organisation is ready with the design of a 1,500-kilometer range conventionally armed ballistic missile with an anti-ship variant. The proposal to initiate the development of the unnamed missile was moved to the Cabinet Committee on Security, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and DRDO awaited for the approval from the committee. The missile will have the capability to deter any land or sea-based threats.[13][14]

The under development missile was first mentioned in the 2023 Year End Review of the Ministry of Defence. The missile was named Long Range – Anti Ship Missile (LRAShM).[15]

In 2024, it was reported that the LRAShM and its land-based variant would form a part of the proposed Integrated Rocket Force along with Pralay, BrahMos, Nirbhay and Pinaka MBRL.[12][4]

The missile is being developed in the Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Missile Complex in Hyderabad with other DRDO laboratories and industry partners.[16][3] The Vehicle Research and Development Establishment (VRDE) assigned Sterling Techno-Systems, a private sector business based in Pune, the responsibility for developing the dummy article to simulate load and force on the vehicle during trials.[17] The aerodynamic characterization research was conducted at the 1.2m Trisonic Wind Tunnel Facility of the National Aerospace Laboratories.[18]

## Design

[edit]

As per a report, the missile's diameter is probably 1.4 meters, and is around 14 meters long. It weighs less than 20 tonnes in total. This missile could be closely related to the Agni-P and the K4 ballistic missiles.[19] The missile incorporates a delta-wing hypersonic glide vehicle.[20] It has a minimum range of 1,500 km (930 mi) and utilises Fractional Orbital Bombardment System (FOBS) to reduce the reaction time of the target to retaliate or defend itself. The glide vehicle follows a quasi-ballisitc trajectory and a lower speed at terminal phase as compared to Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles which enhances manoeuvrability and reduces the effectiveness of the adversaries' air defence missiles.[16] The missile will have several warhead configurations for use in various roles by all the branches of the Indian Armed Forces.[21]

From a hermetically sealed container, LRAShM is cold-launched. Before the first-stage solid rocket motor ignites, it fires attitude control thrusters twice. Beginning around 8 seconds after lift-off, the missile's trajectory shifts from vertical to horizontal in about 6 seconds. With its early post-launch change to a horizontal trajectory, the missile is intended to fly in the atmosphere for the whole mission. A booster stage and a hypersonic sustainer engine make up the two solid propellant rocket stages of the LRAShM. The mid-body of the rocket has cruciform, short span, and long chord aerodynamic surfaces, while the aft body has four small triangular fins. Fins give flight stability, whereas mid-body aerodynamic surfaces give lift, flight path control, and maneuverability. The cruciform design lowers aerodynamic drag at high speed.[22]

## Testing

[edit]

* The first test was conducted on an unspecified date in 2023 as per the 2023 Year End Review of the Ministry of Defence.[15]
* The missile was again tested on 16 November 2024 from the Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha. The missile was tracked by various optical sensors deployed across various domains. The test was successful and terminal maneuvers and high accuracy of the missile was as per expectations of the developing team.[3] Earlier, a report had suggested the test launch of a similar anti-ship ballistic missile that could target warships and aircraft carriers at long distances of over 1,000 km (620 mi).[23]

## See also

[edit]

Other related Indian missile programmes

* Shaurya (missile) – a hypersonic short range ballistic missile
* Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle – a hypersonic short range ballistic missile
* HGV-202F – a hypersonic glide vehicle development programme
* List of Indian military missiles – a list of missiles used by or under development for Indian Armed Forces.

Related missile programmes of other countries

* DF-ZF – a Chinese hypersonic glide vehicle
* Avangard – a Russian hypersonic glide vehicle
* Hypersonic Technology Vehicle 2 – an American hypersonic glide vehicle programme
* Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon – an American hypersonic ballistic missile programme
* 3M22 Zircon – a Russian hypersonic missile
* Kh-47M2 Kinzhal – a Russian hypersonic air-launched ballistic missile
* Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile – an American hypersonic cruise missile programme

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Sen, Abhijeet (19 November 2024). "Speed of 3km per second, whole Pakistan-half China in range, dominance over sea, know the strength of new Indian missile". india.com. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
2. ^ Kumar, Bhaswar (18 November 2024). "India's hypersonic missile test signals 'carrier killer' power like China". Business Standard. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
3. ^ a b c "DRDO carries out successful flight-trial of India's first long-range hypersonic missile off the Odisha coast". Press Information Bureau. 17 November 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
4. ^ a b "Newly-proposed rocket forces may get 1,500 km range ballistic missiles". India Today. 5 November 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
5. ^ "Kalam asks BrahMos team to develop 'Mark-II' version". Hindustan Times. 21 June 2007. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
6. ^ Sachdev, Gp Capt AK (13 July 2023). "Hypersonic Weapon Systems for India". Indian Defense Review. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
7. ^ Schiller, Dr Markus; Brockmann, Kolja (4 February 2022). "A matter of speed? Understanding hypersonic missile systems | SIPRI". www.sipri.org. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
8. ^ Tripathi, Sibu Kumar (5 February 2024). "Hypervelocity facility at IIT Kanpur: How it will propel India's high-speed dreams". India Today. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
9. ^ "DRDO successfully flight tests Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle". Press Information Bureau. Ministry of Defence, Government of India. 7 September 2020. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
10. ^ "India successfully test scramjet technology for hypersonic missiles". The Times of India. 8 September 2020. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
11. ^ "DRDO's conventional ballistic missile design ready, awaits signal for development". Hindustan Times. 2 September 2022. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
12. ^ a b "India tests long-range cruise missile for precision-strike capabilities". The Times of India. 18 April 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
13. ^ Gupta, Shishir (2 September 2022). "DRDO's conventional ballistic missile design ready, awaits nod for development". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
14. ^ admin (3 September 2022). "DRDO's Conventional Ballistic Missile Design Ready, Awaits Signal For Development". Bharat Shakti. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
15. ^ a b "MINISTRY OF DEFENCE - YEAR END REVIEW 2023". Press Information Bureau. 22 December 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
16. ^ a b "DRDO conducts historic flight trial of long-range hypersonic missile". The Times of India. 17 November 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
17. ^ "LR-ASHM". Sterling Techno-System. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
18. ^ "Bengaluru: 1.2m trisonic wind tunnel at National Aerospace Laboratories completes 55 years of service". ANI. 6 June 2022. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
19. ^ "LR-ASHM – Sterling Techno-System". Retrieved 29 November 2024.
20. ^ Fretay, Halna du. "India Successfully Tests First Long-Range Hypersonic Missile LRAShM". armyrecognition.com. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
21. ^ Menon, Adithya Krishna (17 November 2024). "India Conducts Maiden Tests of Long Range Hypersonic and Subsonic Naval Missiles". Naval News. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
22. ^ Thakur, Vijainder K. (19 November 2024). "A Shock & Awe Game Changer! India's 1500-KM-Ranged Hypersonic Missile 'Betters' Russian Zircon, China's DF-21". Eurasian Times. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
23. ^ "India set to test over 1,000 km strike range anti-ship ballistic missile". ANI. 10 November 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2024.

* v
* t
* e

Missiles of India

Surface-
to-surface|

| Ballistic missiles|

| Intercontinental|

* Agni V
* Agni VI*

|

Intermediate range|

* Agni-III
* Agni IV

Medium range|

* Agni-II
* Agni-P*
* Shaurya (hypersonic)

Short range|

* Agni-I
* Prithvi-I
* Prithvi-II
* Prithvi-III
* Dhanush
* Pralay
* Prahaar

Submarine-launched|

* K-15 Sagarika
* K-4*
* K-5*
* K-6*

Cruise missiles|

| Hypersonic|

* HSTDV*
* BrahMos-II*
* Long Range – Anti Ship Missile (India)

|

Supersonic|

* BrahMos

Subsonic|

* Klub
* Nirbhay*

Anti-ship|

* Ametist (retired)
* Termit
* Moskit
* SwitchBlade
* 3M-54 Klub
* BrahMos
* Exocet

Anti-tank missiles|

* Nag
* Amogha
* Konkurs
* Malyutka
* Fagot
* Kornet
* MILAN
* MILAN 2T
* LAHAT
* Spiral
* Sniper
* CLGM
* 3UBK-Invar
* MPATGM**
* ENTAC

Torpedoes|

* Shyena
* SMART ASM
* AEG-SUT Mod-1
* A244-S
* 53-65 torpedo
* Type 53
* Advanced Light-Weight Torpedo
* SUT AS/ASW
* SET-65E ASW
* TEST-71 AS/ASW
* Mark 54
* Varunastra HWT

Air-
to-surface|

| Cruise missiles|

| Hypersonic|

* BrahMos-II*

|

Supersonic|

* BrahMos

Subsonic|

* Crystal Maze
* Kh-59ME
* Nirbhay**

Anti-ship|

* Kh-29 Kedge
* Kh-31 Krypton
* Kh-59MK
* Kh-35E
* Harpoon
* Sea Eagle
* BrahMos
* NASM-SR**
* NASM-MR*

Anti-tank missiles|

* MILAN
* LAHAT
* SS.11
* Scorpion
* Ataka
* Scallion
* HELINA

Torpedoes|

* Shyena
* Advanced Light-Weight Torpedo
* A244-S
* APR-3E
* APR-1 ASW

Laser-guided bomb|

* Sudarshan laser-guided bomb
* KAB-500L
* KAB-1500L
* Paveway LGB
* KAB-500KR
* CBU-105 SFW LGB
* Griffin LGB
* Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon

Anti-radiation missile|

* Martel
* Kh-25
* Kh-31
* Kh-29
* Rudram-1
* Rudram-2**
* Rudram-3*

Medium range attack|

* AS-30L

Short range attack|

* Sea Skua

Surface-
to-air|

| Anti-ballistic missiles|

* PAD
* AAD
* PDV Mk2**

|

Medium range SAM|

* S-400
* Project Kusha**

Medium range SAM|

* Akash
* Akash-NG**
* SA-5 Gammon
* SA-6 Gainful
* SA-11 Gadfly
* SA-17 Grizzly
* Barak 8

Short range SAM|

* Trishul
* Tunguska
* SA-8 Gecko
* SA-3 Goa
* SA-9 Gaskin
* SA-2 Guideline
* SA-13 Gopher
* Seacat
* Tigercat
* Barak 1
* SPYDER
* VL-SRSAM**
* QR-SAM**

MANPADS|

* SA-16 Gimlet
* SA-7 Grail
* SA-14 Gremlin
* SA-18 Grouse
* FIM-92 Stinger
* VSHORAD**

Air-
to-air|

| Visual range|

* Python
* Super 530
* R.550 Magic-1
* R.550 Magic-2
* K-13S
* R-40
* R-60
* R-73

|

Beyond visual range|

* R-27ER
* R-27ET
* R-27R
* R-27T
* R-77
* Derby
* Python-4
* R-23R
* R-23T
* Super 530
* MICA
* ASRAAM
* Astra

* Notes: (*) Undergoing development
* (**) Undergoing trials
* Indian Armed Forces
* Indian Ballistic Missile Defense Program
* Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme

* v
* t
* e

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)

Aeronautics|

| Avionics|

* Tejas
* Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft

|

Other HAL programmes|

* HJT-36
* HTT-40
* Dhruv
* Rudra
* Prachand
* Light Utility Helicopter

Unmanned aerial vehicles|

* Nishant
* Rustom
* Lakshya
* Kapothaka
* Ulka
* Fluffy
* Ghatak
* Imperial Eagle
* Netra
* Pawan

Armaments|

| Small arms|

* INSAS
* Vidhwansak
* Joint Venture Protective Carbine (JVPC)
* Multi Caliber Individual Weapon System (MCIWS)

|

Artillery, ammunition|

* Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher
* M-46 Catapult
* Bhim-T6
* ATAGS

Armoured fighting
vehicles|

| Tanks|

* Arjun
* Arjun Mk-II
* Tank EX
* DRDO light tank

|

Infantry fighting vehicle|

* Abhay IFV

Other vehicles|

* Carrier Mortar Tracked
* Armoured Engineer Reconnaissance Vehicle
* Light Armoured Vehicle
* Kartik BLT
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Electronics,
computer science|

| Electronic warfare|

* Samyukta
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|

Radars|

| Search|

* INDRA
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|

Fire-control|

* Swordfish
* Rajendra
* BMFR
* Atulya ADFCR

Airborne|

* LCA MMR
* SV-2000
* Netra AEW&CS
* Uttam

Software|

* NETRA

Missile systems|

| Ballistic missiles|

| Agni|

* Agni-I
* Agni-II
* Agni-III
* Agni-IV
* Agni-V
* Agni-VI
* Agni-P

|

Prithvi|

* I
* II
* III
* Dhanush

SRBM|

* Shaurya
* Prahaar

SLBM|

* K-15
* K-4
* K-5

Cruise missiles|

* Nirbhay
* BrahMos
* II
* HSTDV

Anti-ship missiles|

* NASM-SR
* NASM-MR
* Long Range – Anti Ship Missile (India)

Air-to-air missiles|

* Astra BVRAAM

Anti-tank missiles|

* DRDO Anti Tank Missile
* MPATGM
* Nag

Surface-to-air|

* Akash
* Akash-NG
* Trishul
* Barak 8
* QRSAM
* VL-SRSAM

Air-to-surface|

* BrahMos-A
* Helina
* Rudram-1
* SMART

Anti-ballistic|

* Prithvi Air Defence (PAD)
* Advanced Air Defence (AAD)
* PDV Mk.2

Torpedoes|

* TAL
* ALWT
* Varunastra HWT

Bombs|

| Precision guided|

* Sudarshan
* Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon
* PG-HSLD

|

General purpose|

* HSLD-100/250/450/500

People|

| Scientists|

* Maj General Ranjit Lal Jetley
* Ram Narain Agarwal
* A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
* A. Sivathanu Pillai
* W Selvamurthy
* V. K. Saraswat
* V. K. Aatre
* Raja Ramanna
* V. S. Mahalingam
* Keshav Dattatreya Nayak
* Tessy Thomas
* Shashikala Sinha
* Ipsita Biswas
* S. P. Chakravarti
* Waman Dattatreya Patwardhan

|

Engines|

* GTX 37-14U
* GTX-35VS Kaveri
* Kaveri Marine Gas Turbine
* GATET engine

Important programmes|

* Project Indigo
* Project Valiant
* Project Devil
* IGMDP
* Indian Ballistic Missile Defence Programme
* DYSLs

* Indian Missile Programme
* Indian Armed Forces

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