Context and Strategic Significance
- The LR-AShM (Long Range Anti-Ship Missile) hypersonic glide vehicle was showcased during the 77th Republic Day Parade, signalling India’s entry into advanced hypersonic strike capabilities.
- Developed by DRDO, LR-AShM strengthens India’s maritime strike, deterrence, and anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) posture, particularly in the Indo-Pacific security environment.
Relevance
- GS Paper 3 (Internal Security):
Defence technology, missile systems, deterrence, strategic stability, maritime security, A2/AD doctrine. - GS Paper 3 (Science & Technology):
Indigenous defence R&D, hypersonic technologies, DRDO programmes, dual-use technologies.
What is LR-AShM?
Hypersonic Glide Missile System
- LR-AShM is a hypersonic glide missile designed to meet Indian Navy requirements, capable of engaging static and moving targets at sea.
- It combines hypersonic speed (Mach 5+), high manoeuvrability, and precision strike capability, complicating adversary detection and interception.
Technical Features and Performance
Speed, Range, and Flight Profile
- The missile travels at Mach 5 or higher, maintaining hypersonic velocity throughout most of its trajectory.
- It has a range of around 1,500 km, enabling deep maritime strike without exposing naval platforms.
- The missile can cover this distance in approximately 15 minutes, drastically reducing enemy reaction time.
Two-Stage Propulsion System
- LR-AShM uses a two-stage solid rocket booster to accelerate the vehicle to hypersonic speeds.
- After separation, the hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) continues flight within the atmosphere using kinetic energy and aerodynamic lift.
Manoeuvrability and Survivability
Difficult to Detect and Intercept
- Unlike ballistic missiles, LR-AShM follows a low-altitude, non-ballistic trajectory, reducing radar detection and early warning time.
- High manoeuvrability allows mid-course course correction, evading missile defence systems designed for predictable ballistic paths.
Guidance and Targeting
Precision Strike Capability
- The missile is equipped with advanced navigation, guidance, and control systems, enabling precision strikes against moving maritime targets.
- Terminal-phase manoeuvres enhance hit probability against high-value naval assets, including aircraft carriers and destroyers.
Operational and Military Significance
Maritime Deterrence and A2/AD
- LR-AShM significantly enhances India’s anti-ship warfare capability, strengthening deterrence in critical sea lanes.
- It reduces adversary freedom of manoeuvre by creating high-risk zones for hostile naval deployments.
Strategic Balance and Global Context
- Hypersonic weapons are currently operational with few countries, including the U.S., China, and Russia.
- India’s progress places it among a select group of hypersonic-capable powers, enhancing strategic credibility.
DRDO’s Hypersonic Ecosystem
Complementary Hypersonic Programmes
- DRDO is simultaneously developing hypersonic cruise missiles (HCMs) and air-breathing scramjet technologies.
- Hypersonic cruise missiles rely on scramjet engines, enabling sustained powered flight within the atmosphere at Mach 5+.
Comparison: Glide vs Cruise Hypersonic Missiles
Hypersonic Glide Vehicles (HGVs)
- HGVs are boosted by rockets, then glide unpowered at hypersonic speeds with high manoeuvrability.
- They are relatively simpler than scramjet-powered systems and suitable for long-range precision strikes.
Hypersonic Cruise Missiles
- Hypersonic cruise missiles use scramjet propulsion, sustaining powered flight at hypersonic speeds.
- They are technologically complex, requiring advanced materials, thermal management, and combustion stability.
Challenges and Limitations
- Development involves challenges in thermal protection, guidance accuracy at hypersonic speeds, and integration with naval platforms.
- Counter-hypersonic defence systems globally remain limited, increasing strategic instability risks.
Way Forward
- Accelerate testing and induction of LR-AShM variants with longer ranges (up to 3,500 km).
- Integrate with satellite-based maritime domain awareness, naval sensors, and network-centric warfare systems.
- Continue parallel development of hypersonic cruise and scramjet technologies to maintain long-term strategic edge.
