DRDO carries out maiden test of long range cruise missile

• Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Tuesday (November 12, 2024) conducted the maiden flight-test of a Long Range Land Attack Cruise Missile (LRLACM), with a range of 1,000 km.

Highlights:

• The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted the maiden flight-test of the Long Range Land Attack Cruise Missile (LRLACM), with an impressive range of 1,000 km, on November 12, 2024. The test was carried out from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur, Odisha, using a mobile articulated launcher.

Key Features of LRLACM

Specifications and Capabilities:

• Range: Over 1,000 km.
• Design: An improved version of the Nirbhay LRLACM, featuring advanced avionics and software for reliable performance.
• Flight Characteristics:
  • Terrain-hugging capability for evading radar detection.
  • Ability to perform complex maneuvers at various altitudes and speeds using way-point navigation.

Monitoring Systems:

• Performance tracked using Radar, Electro-Optical Tracking Systems, and telemetry, ensuring comprehensive coverage of the flight path.
• Development and Collaboration

Contributors:

• Developed by Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), Bengaluru in collaboration with other DRDO labs and Indian industries.
• Development-cum-Production-Partners:
  • Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), Hyderabad.
  • Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Bengaluru.

Applications:

• Configured for ground launch via mobile articulated launchers.
• Compatible with universal vertical launch module systems for deployment from frontline naval ships.

Significance of LRLACM

Strategic Advantages:

• Enhances long-range standoff strike capabilities for Indian armed forces.
• Comparable to the U.S. Tomahawk cruise missile, offering India a cutting-edge strategic weapon system.

Indigenous Advancement:

• Approved as a Mission Mode Project by the Defence Acquisition Council in July 2020.
• Represents a significant step forward in indigenous missile technology development.

Defense Minister’s Statement:

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh commended DRDO for the achievement, noting that it lays the foundation for future indigenous cruise missile programs.

Background and Future Prospects

The Nirbhay Legacy:

• LRLACM builds on the original Nirbhay missile, which also had a range of 1,000 km but faced some testing challenges in earlier phases.

Future Deployments:

• Once inducted, LRLACM will provide India with a versatile terrain-hugging cruise missile capable of precision strikes on land targets from multiple platforms.

Prelims Takeaways:

• Defence Acquisition Council
• U.S. Tomahawk cruise missile