The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) marked a pivotal milestone on November 12, 2024, announcing the successful maiden flight test of the Long Range Land Attack Cruise Missile (LRLACM) off the coast of Odisha. Launched from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur, this test signifies a significant boost in India’s defense capabilities, underscoring its rapid progress in Indigenous missile technology development.
The launch was not merely a technological achievement but a crucial advancement in India’s strategic defense capabilities. The LRLACM is not just a new entry in India’s missile arsenal; it represents a broader missile development initiative aimed at enhancing India’s conventional deterrence in a dynamically changing security landscape.
Following the launch, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) issued a press release confirming the missile’s performance and the success of all major subsystems in achieving the primary mission objectives. The missile reportedly followed the desired trajectory via waypoint navigation, an essential feature for such advanced long-range missiles, showcasing its ability to perform various maneuvers at different speeds and altitudes. The demonstration reinforced the missile’s capacity to navigate complex terrains, avoid obstacles, and stay under radar detection, characteristics critical for any modern cruise missile system.
The successful test also underscored the prowess of India’s growing domestic defense industry, highlighting DRDO’s commitment to self-reliance in defense technology. It is evident that with the LRLACM, India is taking a substantial step forward in its strategic defense capability, aiming to fulfill a specific set of qualitative requirements (QRs) projected by the Indian Navy (IN) for increased tactical flexibility and defense readiness.
The development of the LRLACM has been in progress for several years, with its roots tracing back to DefExpo 2020, where the concept was initially unveiled. In July 2020, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) formally approved the missile’s acquisition by the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force. Leveraging the Indigenous Technology Cruise Missile (ITCM) platform, developed under DRDO’s Nirbhay project, the LRLACM builds on previous successes and pushes the envelope further in terms of speed, range, and accuracy.
The Nirbhay project laid a strong foundation, making it possible for the LRLACM to progress swiftly through development and testing phases. DRDO has planned approximately 20 test flights of the missile, most of which are anticipated to use indigenous systems and components, apart from some specific imported sensors and Ring Laser Gyros (RLGs). The successful maiden test provides confidence in achieving rapid future development and integration into the Indian military’s operational framework.
With an operational range exceeding 1,000 km, the LRLACM adds a new dimension to India’s missile arsenal. One of its standout features is the ability to follow a terrain-hugging flight path, a low-altitude navigation profile designed to evade enemy radar detection. This feature is vital in modern warfare, as it allows the missile to approach targets covertly and avoid air defense networks that could otherwise intercept it.
The missile is designed for precision strikes against stationary targets. Equipped with a high-performance RF seeker, similar to that used in the BrahMos missile, the LRLACM achieves accurate terminal homing, which ensures precision in target engagement. The RF seeker, combined with other navigation subsystems, enables the missile to adjust its trajectory based on real-time terrain and threat data, offering unparalleled flexibility and operational advantage.
The LRLACM can be launched from mobile, articulated ground launchers, and frontline warships equipped with Universal Vertical Launcher Modules (UVLM). The UVLM, developed and patented by BrahMos Aerospace, is already operational on 30 Indian Navy vessels, ensuring seamless integration of LRLACM with existing naval assets. This versatility in launch platforms significantly enhances the missile’s deployability across various defense scenarios.
In 2017, the Ministry of Defence sanctioned the development of a submarine-launched variant of the ITCM, termed the Submarine-Launched Cruise Missile (SLCM). Like the LRLACM, the SLCM is designed to have a 1,000-km range, expanding India’s offensive reach into underwater warfare. The development of an underwater launch capability for the SLCM is part of a larger strategic goal to provide India with a layered and flexible deterrence against potential threats in both regional and extended theater operations.
BrahMos Aerospace, a joint venture between India and Russia, has been instrumental in laying the foundation for India’s submarine-launched missile capabilities. The groundwork was set as early as 2013, with the successful test of a submarine variant of the BrahMos missile from a submerged platform in the Bay of Bengal. This test demonstrated BrahMos’ ability to launch from underwater, ascend to the surface, and engage targets with high precision. Since then, a modified pontoon used for the K-15 Shaurya missile has facilitated further testing of submarine-launched missile variants, with reported successful trials in 2015.
The ultimate goal for the submarine-launched cruise missile program is to create a platform-agnostic missile compatible with various submarine classes. Originally, it was expected that Project 75I submarines would be armed with land-attack cruise missiles, but this requirement was subsequently removed. However, recent reports suggest that an adapted Kilo-class variant featuring a vertical launch system (VLS) may be in the pipeline under Project 76, enabling it to accommodate both BrahMos and the more affordable SLCM.
The existing Kilo-class submarines of the Indian Navy are already armed with a land-attack capability based on the Russian-origin Kalibr 3M-14 missiles, which have a range of up to 2,500 km. These submarines can launch Kalibr missiles from 533 mm torpedo tubes, significantly enhancing India’s underwater strike capabilities. Export versions of the Kalibr, known as Club-S, offer a reduced range of 300 km and are compatible with Kilo-class submarines.
However, the under-development SLCM is expected to be incompatible with torpedo tube launches due to its size. Consequently, the Indian Navy is evaluating the possibility of incorporating a VLS on the Kilo-class submarines, which would enable them to launch a broader range of cruise missiles. A VLS would enhance the Kilo-class submarines’ operational flexibility, allowing them to deploy both BrahMos and the SLCM, effectively diversifying their strike options and expanding India’s underwater deterrent capabilities.
The Kilo-class submarine modernization initiative also involves collaboration with the Russian shipbuilder Zvezdochka and India’s Larsen & Toubro (L&T). Announced in 2018, this partnership aims to upgrade the Kilo-class submarines, ensuring they remain versatile and operationally relevant in the coming decades.
The successful testing of the LRLACM underscores a significant advancement in India’s missile development trajectory. DRDO’s rapid progress in creating long-range, land-attack, terrain-hugging cruise missiles signals India’s shift towards a multi-layered deterrent posture, incorporating advanced missile systems across air, land, and sea domains.
The addition of a submarine-launched variant in the SLCM will further reinforce India’s second-strike capability, a critical component of nuclear deterrence. By developing both subsonic and supersonic cruise missiles, the DRDO is giving India a range of options tailored to specific mission objectives and threat scenarios. The integration of these missiles across different platforms will enhance India’s ability to respond flexibly and proportionately to a broad spectrum of threats, from regional conflicts to high-stakes standoffs.
The potential development of a vertical launch capability for submarines could also open the door for India to field nuclear-guided missile submarines (SSGNs) in the future. Such a capability would allow the Indian Navy to deploy both nuclear and conventional weapons on submarines, substantially expanding its strategic options and contributing to a robust, credible deterrence posture in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and beyond.
