India Unveils Indigenous Hypersonic Glide Missile at 77th Republic Day Parade

India marked a major milestone in its defence journey during the 77th Republic Day Parade with the public unveiling of the Long Range Anti-Ship Hypersonic Missile (LR-AShM). Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the advanced missile system was showcased at Kartavya Path in New Delhi, signalling India’s entry into the elite group of nations possessing hypersonic weapon capabilities. The display reflected the growing maturity of India’s indigenous defence research and its emphasis on strategic self-reliance.

The hypersonic glide missile is configured with a two-stage propulsion rocket motor system. (Screengrab/YouTube) | Hindustan Times

Understanding the LR-AShM Capability

The LR-AShM is a hypersonic glide missile specifically designed for maritime strike operations. Engineered to engage both stationary and moving naval targets, the missile significantly enhances the Indian Navy’s long-range precision strike capability. With an estimated operational range of around 1,500 kilometres, the system enables India to cover vast maritime spaces with rapid response time, strengthening deterrence in the Indian Ocean Region.

What sets the LR-AShM apart is its ability to achieve extreme speeds, beginning at hypersonic velocities of Mach 10 and sustaining an average speed of around Mach 5 during much of its flight. Such speed dramatically compresses the reaction window available to adversaries, making defensive interception exceedingly difficult.

Advanced Flight Profile and Missile Design

Unlike conventional ballistic missiles that follow predictable high-altitude trajectories, the LR-AShM uses a quasi-ballistic flight path combined with skip-glide manoeuvres through the atmosphere. This allows the missile to remain at lower altitudes while maintaining hypersonic speed, reducing radar visibility and enhancing survivability against modern air and missile defence systems.

The missile employs a two-stage solid-fuel propulsion system. The initial booster accelerates the weapon to hypersonic velocity, after which the glide vehicle separates and continues its journey unpowered, using aerodynamic lift and controlled manoeuvres to reach the target. This design enables high accuracy while retaining flexibility in targeting during the terminal phase.

Indigenous Technology and Precision Targeting

A key highlight of the LR-AShM programme is the extensive use of indigenous technologies. The missile integrates advanced onboard avionics, navigation systems, and sensors developed within India, allowing it to track and engage moving targets in complex maritime environments. These systems are designed to function reliably under extreme thermal and aerodynamic stresses encountered at hypersonic speeds.

The development reflects DRDO’s growing expertise in high-temperature materials, guidance algorithms, and aerodynamic control — critical areas that define the success of hypersonic weapon systems. The missile’s precision-strike capability against high-value naval assets provides India with a credible and modern maritime deterrent.

Strategic Significance in a Changing Security Environment

The unveiling of the LR-AShM comes at a time when hypersonic weapons are reshaping global military doctrines. Major powers are investing heavily in such technologies due to their ability to bypass traditional missile defence systems and deliver rapid, decisive strikes. For India, the induction of hypersonic glide missile capability enhances strategic balance and strengthens its ability to safeguard national interests across vital sea lanes.

In the maritime domain, where response time and reach are critical, the LR-AShM adds a powerful layer to India’s naval strike architecture. It also complements existing systems such as the BrahMos missile, providing the armed forces with a diversified and technologically advanced arsenal.

Republic Day as a Showcase of Defence Self-Reliance

The Republic Day Parade has increasingly become a platform to display India’s progress in defence indigenisation, and the LR-AShM stood out as a symbol of this transformation. Alongside other indigenous systems showcased during the parade, the hypersonic missile underscored India’s commitment to Atmanirbhar Bharat and its determination to reduce reliance on foreign military technology.

The MGMM Outlook

India’s public unveiling of the Long Range Anti-Ship Hypersonic Missile (LR-AShM) at the 77th Republic Day Parade marked a defining moment in the country’s defence journey, signalling the arrival of an advanced indigenous capability in a domain dominated by only a handful of global powers. Developed by DRDO, the hypersonic glide missile reflects the growing depth and confidence of India’s defence research ecosystem and reinforces the country’s strategic intent to secure its maritime interests through self-reliant technology. Showcased at Kartavya Path, the system underscored how indigenous innovation is now translating into credible, frontline military capabilities rather than remaining confined to laboratories and test ranges.

Designed for long-range maritime strike missions, the LR-AShM significantly strengthens India’s naval deterrence by combining extended reach, extreme speed, and high survivability. Its hypersonic velocity, manoeuvrable glide profile, and ability to engage moving naval targets compress adversary response times and complicate interception by modern missile defence systems. The missile’s reliance on domestically developed avionics, navigation, sensors, and high-temperature materials highlights India’s advancing mastery of complex technologies critical to future warfare. In an evolving security environment where control of sea lanes and rapid precision strike capabilities are increasingly decisive, the LR-AShM adds a formidable layer to India’s maritime strike architecture and reinforces the broader push toward Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence.

(Sources: Hindustan Times, Economic Times, DD India)