Long Range Anti-Ship Missile:
India’s indigenous LR-ASHM missile will be on display at the Republic Day parade on January 26, highlighting the country’s growing maritime strike capability.
- It is a hypersonic glide missile developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
- Hypersonic glide vehicles (HGVs) like the LRAShM differ from traditional ballistic missiles, which follow a fixed trajectory.
- HGVs are launched on a rocket, ascend to the upper atmosphere, and then glide towards their target in an unpredictable manner.
- This combination of exceptional speed and maneuverability makes them extremely difficult to intercept with existing air defense technologies.
- It outperforms similar missiles like China’s DF-17 in terms of range and technology.
- It is being built for anti-ship roles (to target enemy warships and carrier groups) and may also evolve into a land-attack variant.
- The missile’s standout feature is its incorporation of a delta-wing hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV), which allows it to follow highly complex and adaptive flight paths.
- It is reported to have a range of over 1,500 kilometers.
- This missile operates at 10 Mach, making it 10 times faster than the speed of sound.
- The missile’s radio frequency (RF) seeker, designed to operate effectively at hypersonic speeds, ensures accurate strikes against moving targets, such as warships, a capability that very few weapons possess.
- It is configured for launches from both land-based platforms and naval vessels, offering versatility in combat scenarios.
- It is capable of carrying various payloads, including both conventional and nuclear warheads,
- The incorporation of special heat-resistant materials ensures the missile can withstand extreme temperatures without disintegrating during flight, setting a new benchmark in scramjet and glide technology.
