Daily News Analysis ‘Long Range Anti-Ship Hypersonic Missile (LR-AShM)’ : 23 January

DRDO is set to publicly debut the indigenous LR-AShM along with its mobile launcher during the 77th Republic Day parade (2026) at Kartavya Path.

Developer: Designed and developed indigenously by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), primarily for the Indian Navy.
Missile Type: It is a Hypersonic Glide Vehicle (HGV). Unlike ballistic missiles that follow a fixed parabolic path, HGVs can maneuver unpredictably within the atmosphere.
Speed: Operates in the hypersonic regime, with speeds starting at Mach 5 and capable of reaching up to Mach 10 (approx. 12,000 km/h).
Operational Range: Boasts a strike range of approximately 1,500 km, enabling it to engage high-value naval targets like aircraft carrier battle groups from standoff distances.
Trajectory: Follows a quasi-ballistic trajectory. It uses a two-stage solid propulsion system to reach high altitudes before performing an unpowered, high-speed glide toward the target.