The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is working to enhance the capabilities of its indigenous long-range anti-ship hypersonic missile, LR-ASHM. This missile has already demonstrated a range of about 1500 kilometers, and DRDO now plans to increase it to 3500 kilometers.
Two to three tests are planned before production approval is granted. If successful, the missile could enter the production phase by 2028–2029.
The LR-ASHM is a 'boost-glide' type hypersonic missile. It first gains high speed using a solid-fuel rocket booster and then flies in the atmosphere in a gliding mode. It is reported that its speed can reach 12,348 kilometers per hour, with an average speed around 6,174 kilometers per hour.
The missile is capable of striking both static and moving maritime targets. Its trajectory includes numerous maneuvers and dives, which significantly complicates interception by enemy radars and anti-missile defense systems. Onboard sensors help accurately track moving vessels during flight.
Increasing the range will not require significant hardware changes; an update to the software and a change in the trajectory profile will suffice. The missile boosters are taken from the K-4 ballistic missile launched from submarines, which itself can achieve a range of 3500 kilometers, allowing the utilization of the existing design's hidden potential.
Achieving a range of 3500 kilometers will substantially strengthen India's maritime capabilities to deny the use of sea space in the Indian Ocean. The missile will be able to strike enemy warships, aircraft carrier groups, and other offshore naval bases. Combined with missiles like BrahMos, it will provide multi-layered strike power.
Thanks to its hypersonic speed and maneuverability, this missile will pose a serious challenge to modern air defense systems. DRDO has also proposed this system for use by land and air forces. When developing a ground strike variant, the missile will be able to attack ground targets at a long distance, providing all three armed forces with reliable traditional long-range strike capability.
Initial missile tests were conducted in 2023 and 2024, demonstrating the ability to hit maritime targets at a range of 1500 kilometers. A successful test was also conducted in May 2026. New tests are currently being prepared to extend the range. Production approval will be granted after successful verification. This demonstrates India's progress in domestic hypersonic technologies.
This development is a major step towards India's self-reliance and maintaining strategic balance in the Indian Ocean. If successful, the LR-ASHM could become an important part of India's conventional arsenal and influence regional defense dynamics.
