India’s Ministry of Defence has reportedly issued a Request for Information (RFI) for the procurement of an undersea-launched cruise missile capable of striking land targets at ranges from 50 kilometres to beyond 500 kilometres, marking a significant step in strengthening the Indian Navy’s conventional submarine strike capability.
The RFI calls for a missile compatible with standard 533 mm torpedo tubes used by the Navy’s existing conventional submarines. The complete system, including the launch capsule, must weigh under 1,500 kilograms. The missile is required to deliver a “long-range strike capability against land targets” with a “high probability of kill,” even when launched from conventional submarines operating in contested maritime environments.
Crucially, the missile must be capable of functioning in GPS-denied conditions, incorporate terrain-following capability, support waypoint navigation, and feature robust anti-jamming characteristics. These requirements reflect the Indian Navy’s emphasis on survivability and operational reliability in high-threat scenarios, including electronic warfare environments where satellite navigation signals may be degraded or denied.
The Indian Navy had earlier explored adapting the supersonic BrahMos for submarine launch. On March 20, 2013, a vertically launched submarine version of BrahMos was successfully tested from a submerged platform in the Bay of Bengal off the coast of Visakhapatnam.
However, integrating a vertical launch system into existing conventional submarines would have required inserting an additional hull section. Such a modification could have significantly altered the submarine’s buoyancy, hydrodynamics, and structural integrity. Beyond technical complexity, the process would have entailed considerable financial costs and time delays.
As a result, the Navy appears to be prioritising a torpedo tube-launched cruise missile. While subsonic missiles lack the sheer kinetic impact and terminal speed of the supersonic BrahMos, they offer affordability, compatibility with existing platforms, and longer ranges. They also allow submarines to retain stealth without extensive structural modifications.
At present, the Indian Navy fields Russian-origin Klub-S cruise missiles integrated into its Project 877EKM Sindhughosh-class submarines and German HDW Type 209 (Shishumar-class) submarines. The Sindhughosh class is the Indian designation for the Russian Kilo-class diesel-electric attack submarines.
The Klub-S system includes two principal variants: the 3M54E1 anti-ship missile and the 3M14E land-attack cruise missile. The land-attack variant offers a range of approximately 220–300 kilometres depending on configuration.
In addition to the Klub-S, the Navy operates the French SM39 Exocet on its Shishumar-class submarines. However, the SM39 is designed primarily for anti-ship missions and lacks a dedicated land-attack variant. France is reportedly developing a land-attack version known as the SM40, but it is not yet operational.
In July 2018, Russian shipbuilder Zvezdochka partnered with India’s Larsen & Toubro to carry out medium refit and life certification (MRLC) upgrades on four Sindhughosh-class submarines. One submarine underwent refit at Zvezdochka’s facility in Severodvinsk to facilitate technology transfer and training for Indian personnel, while the remaining three were handled at L&T’s Kattupalli shipyard near Chennai.
The MRLC programme included integration of the Klub-S missile system for enhanced anti-ship and land-attack capability. These upgrades extended the operational relevance of the Sindhughosh fleet while bridging the gap toward indigenous missile solutions.
According to the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Annual Report 2018, the Ministry of Defence sanctioned development of a Submarine-Launched Cruise Missile (SLCM) in 2017. The SLCM is a derivative of the Indigenous Technology Cruise Missile (ITCM), itself an evolution of the earlier Nirbhay programme.
The Nirbhay project laid the technological foundation for India’s long-range subsonic cruise missile capability. During DefExpo 2020, the DRDO announced the closure of the Nirbhay project and the launch of the ITCM initiative, built upon lessons learned and enhanced with indigenous subsystems.
The ITCM differs significantly from its predecessor. It is powered by the indigenously developed Manik small turbofan engine, designed by the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) in Bengaluru. Unlike the earlier Nirbhay configuration, ITCM incorporates an RF seeker for terminal homing, enhancing its precision against designated targets.
The ITCM was successfully flight-tested on April 17, 2024. The test validated the performance of the Manik turbofan engine and confirmed the reliability of subsystems, including the RF seeker, advanced avionics, and flight control software.
According to DRDO data, the ITCM has a range of approximately 1,000 kilometres and carries a 300-kilogram warhead. The missile weighs around 1,500 kilograms and measures about six metres in length.
The submarine-launched variant of the ITCM will need modifications to meet torpedo tube constraints. Since the RFI specifies compatibility with 533 mm tubes and a total system weight under 1,500 kilograms, the SLCM will likely be shorter and lighter than its ground-launched counterpart.
Reports indicate that the SLCM variant will carry a 250-kilogram penetration-cum-blast or airburst warhead. The reduction in warhead weight is intended to accommodate launch capsule requirements and ensure compatibility with torpedo tube dimensions without compromising operational effectiveness.
The SLCMs are expected to undergo initial testing on Sindhughosh-class submarines. According to media reports, DRDO successfully validated submarine launch capability in February 2023 through a developmental missile test from an underwater platform. The missile reportedly covered a distance of 402 kilometres during the test.
The trial aimed to validate critical underwater launch processes, including safe ejection from a submerged platform, wing deployment upon breaching the surface, and reliable engine ignition during flight. These stages are among the most technically demanding aspects of submarine-launched cruise missile development.
The RFI’s emphasis on GPS-denied operations highlights evolving battlefield realities. Modern adversaries increasingly deploy electronic warfare systems capable of jamming or spoofing satellite navigation signals. Therefore, the missile must rely on alternative navigation modes, including inertial navigation systems, terrain contour matching, and waypoint-based guidance.
Terrain-following capability enables the missile to fly at low altitudes, hugging the earth’s surface or sea contours to evade radar detection. Waypoint navigation allows flexible route planning, enabling the missile to avoid enemy air defence networks or natural obstacles.
The inclusion of anti-jamming features and advanced avionics further ensures mission reliability in high-threat electromagnetic environments. Such capabilities are critical for ensuring a high probability of kill against defended targets.
In parallel with the SLCM programme, DRDO is developing a longer-range variant known as the Long-Range Land-Attack Cruise Missile (LR-LACM). This system is designed to meet the qualitative requirements projected by the Indian Navy for precision attacks against static land targets.
The LR-LACM employs a terrain-hugging and sea-skimming flight profile to minimise radar detection. It navigates using waypoints and can dynamically adjust its route to bypass adversary air defence zones and terrain obstacles.
Like the SLCM and ITCM, the LR-LACM incorporates an RF terminal seeker similar to that developed for BrahMos. This enables precision engagement of static targets in the terminal phase.
The LR-LACM is configured for launch from multiple platforms. It can be deployed from ground-based coastal batteries using mobile articulated launchers and from frontline warships using the Universal Vertical Launcher Module (UVLM). The UVLM, developed and patented by BrahMos Aerospace, is already deployed on approximately 30 Indian Navy ships.
DRDO conducted the maiden flight test of the LR-LACM from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, Odisha, on November 12, 2024. Launched from a mobile articulated launcher, the missile followed its designated path using waypoint navigation and demonstrated manoeuvrability across various altitudes and speeds.
According to official statements, the missile is equipped with advanced avionics and software designed to ensure reliable performance and mission flexibility.
The acquisition of a torpedo tube-launched land-attack cruise missile would significantly enhance India’s conventional submarine deterrent. Conventional diesel-electric submarines, particularly when operating in littoral waters, offer stealth and survivability. Equipping them with long-range land-attack missiles expands their role from sea denial to strategic strike.
Unlike ballistic missile submarines, which serve as nuclear deterrent platforms, conventional submarines armed with cruise missiles provide flexible, conventional precision strike options. This enhances escalation control while maintaining credible deterrence.
For India, such a capability strengthens maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region and beyond. It allows covert targeting of high-value land targets, including command centres, air defence installations, and logistical hubs, without exposing surface assets.
Moreover, the emphasis on indigenous systems reflects New Delhi’s broader drive toward defence self-reliance. Reducing dependence on foreign suppliers enhances strategic autonomy, mitigates supply chain risks, and fosters domestic technological growth.
While the RFI signals intent, the path to operational deployment will require rigorous testing, certification, and integration. Submarine-launched systems must meet stringent safety standards, given the confined and high-risk environment of underwater platforms.
The Indian Navy’s experience with the Klub-S and Exocet systems provides a valuable operational baseline. However, transitioning to an indigenous torpedo tube-launched cruise missile will mark a significant technological milestone.
If successfully realised, the SLCM programme will position India among a select group of nations capable of deploying indigenous land-attack cruise missiles from conventional submarines. Combined with parallel efforts on the LR-LACM and continued evolution of BrahMos variants, the development underscores India’s expanding precision-strike ecosystem.
The reported RFI thus represents more than a procurement exercise. It reflects a doctrinal shift toward enhancing underwater offensive capability, improving survivability in contested environments, and reinforcing the Indian Navy’s role as a key pillar of India’s strategic deterrence architecture.
