India's LR-AShM missile debuts on Republic Day: Hypersonic glide, low radar visibility, a naval game-changer

Unlike conventional cruise or ballistic missiles, the LR-AShM follows a quasi-ballistic flight profile.

• DRDO to unveil LR-AShM hypersonic anti-ship missile at Republic Day parade
• India's LR-AShM enhances maritime strike with 1,500 km range, Mach 10 speed.
• DRDO's Republic Day display highlights indigenous naval and defence technologies

Did our AI summary help?

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is set to unveil the Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LR-AShM), a hypersonic glide weapon system, at the 77th Republic Day parade on Kartavya Path on January 26. This will offer the first public glimpse of a capability that will significantly fortify India’s long-range maritime strike power.

What is LR-AShM?

The LR-AShM is a hypersonic glide missile developed indigenously to meet the Indian Navy’s coastal defence and blue-water warfare requirements. Designed to strike both stationary and moving targets at sea, the missile is intended to counter high-value naval assets, including heavily defended warships, at long ranges and in contested environments.

Unlike conventional cruise or ballistic missiles, the LR-AShM follows a quasi-ballistic flight profile.

Once it is launched, it accelerates to hypersonic speeds, peaking at around Mach 10 and sustaining an average speed of Mach 5, before entering a glide phase in the atmosphere. During this phase, the missile performs multiple manoeuvring “skips”, allowing it to extend its range, alter its trajectory and evade interception.

A key advantage of the LR-AShM lies in its survivability.

Flying at low altitudes with high speed and manoeuvrability, the missile remains largely undetectable to enemy ground- and ship-based radar systems for most of its flight. DRDO has equipped the system with indigenously developed avionics and high-accuracy sensor packages, enabling it to track and engage moving naval targets during the terminal phase.

How the missile works

The missile uses a two-stage solid propulsion system.

>> The first stage boosts the vehicle to the required hypersonic velocity before separating.

>> The second stage accelerates the missile further, after which it transitions into an unpowered glide, executing controlled atmospheric manoeuvres until it strikes the target.

The LR-AShM is capable of carrying multiple payload configurations and is designed to neutralise all classes of warships, as per officials.

The current version has an estimated range of about 1,500 km, enabling it to hit targets deep inside the ocean in roughly 15 minutes. Future variants under development are expected to extend this range to nearly 3,500 km.

“This missile is being developed by DRDO specifically for the Indian Navy. Its biggest advantage is that it is hypersonic, which makes detection and interception by enemy radars extremely difficult,” project director A Prasad Goud told ANI. He said the LR-AShM is part of DRDO’s broader work on hypersonic glide and hypersonic cruise missile technologies.

Display at Republic Day and Bharat Parv

The LR-AShM will be showcased with its launcher during the Republic Day parade, displaying  India’s growing self-reliance in advanced missile technologies. DRDO officials said the system represents a major step forward in strengthening India’s maritime deterrence posture.

From the silent depths of the ocean to the farthest horizons, India’s strength stands resolute

On this Republic Day 2026, DRDO is showcasing Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LR-AShM), India’s first Hypersonic Missile. DRDO Tableau will be featured in Bharat Parv with a theme… pic.twitter.com/z8SWWpQ9vm — DRDO (@DRDO_India) January 25, 2026

Beyond the parade, DRDO will also present a tableau at Bharat Parv at the Red Fort from January 26 to 31, with the theme ‘Naval Technologies for Combat Submarines’. The tableau will feature key indigenous systems such as the Integrated Combat Suite (ICS), Wire-Guided Heavy Weight Torpedo (WGHWT) and Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) system, all developed to enhance the Indian Navy’s underwater combat capabilities.

Several other DRDO-developed platforms, including the Arjun Main Battle Tank, BrahMos missile, Akash air defence systems and advanced artillery and surveillance systems, will also feature in the Republic Day celebrations, highlighting the expanding scope of indigenous defence production under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.