India to expand its hypersonic arsenal with LR-AShM missile, Pg12

Key Highlights:

• DRDO showcased the Long Range Anti-Ship Hypersonic Missile (LR-AShM) at the 77th Republic Day Parade.
• The LR-AShM is designed for the Indian Navy's coastal battery requirements, capable of engaging static and moving targets.
• The missile has a range of approximately 1,500 km and travels at hypersonic speeds, averaging Mach 5.
• A successful test of the missile was conducted by DRDO on November 16, 2024, off the coast of Odisha.

Detailed Insights:

• The LR-AShM follows a quasi-ballistic trajectory, flying at low altitudes with high speed and maneuverability to evade enemy radar detection.
• The missile is configured with a two-stage solid propulsion rocket motor system to achieve hypersonic velocities.
• Versions of the LR-AShM with ranges up to 3,500 kilometers are under development, enhancing sea denial operations in the Indian Ocean region.
• DRDO is also working on hypersonic cruise missiles that utilize scramjet engines for sustained powered flight within the atmosphere.
• The LR-AShM incorporates indigenous technologies in materials and control systems for sustained hypersonic flight.
• The missile warhead and sensor mechanisms will be integrated before its induction into the Navy in the next two to three years.

Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved:

• Hypersonic Speed: Speed exceeding Mach 5, five times the speed of sound.
• Quasi-Ballistic Trajectory: A missile trajectory that begins ballistically but includes in-flight maneuvers to change course.
• Scramjet Engine: An air-breathing engine that maintains supersonic airflow in the combustion chamber for efficient operation above Mach 5.