SOURCE: AFI
The delivery of SCALP air-launched cruise missiles (ALCMs) to Ukraine by the United Kingdom and France marked a critical point in Ukraine’s defense strategy. The SCALP, a long-range, precision-guided missile, has bolstered Ukraine’s capabilities to hit key logistical and military targets, disrupting Russian supply chains and impacting strategic installations. For India, the conflict in Ukraine highlights the importance of indigenously developed cruise missiles, especially given the limited availability of SCALP missiles within the Indian Air Force’s current arsenal, solely operational on 36 Rafale jets.
The SCALP, known for its long-range and accuracy, has provided Ukraine with an effective standoff weapon. Since its induction in July 2023, Ukraine has leveraged the SCALP to target crucial infrastructure like bridges, hindering the logistics supply chain vital to Russian ground operations. The missile’s performance on the battlefield places it alongside other critical systems such as the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), loitering munitions, and surface-to-air missile systems, all of which have been vital to Ukraine’s counteroffensive. The addition of SCALP missiles highlights how long-range strike capabilities can shape the battlefield by allowing nations to strike deeply into enemy territory while minimizing risk to their assets.
India’s current reliance on the SCALP, which is limited to its fleet of Rafale jets, underscores the need to accelerate domestic development of similar long-range, standoff cruise missile capabilities. The Indian Air Force (IAF) has only 36 Rafales equipped with the SCALP, limiting its operational flexibility. Given that securing additional SCALPs or similar systems could be challenging amid global supply chain constraints and strategic export restrictions, the IAF would benefit from an indigenous alternative.
India’s Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) have been pursuing indigenous programs to address this capability gap. In 2022, DRDO proposed a new stealth air-launched cruise missile (ALCM) powered by a detuned Small Turbofan Engine (STFE), promising advanced stealth and precision. Separately, HAL and NewSpace Research & Technologies presented the CATS Hunter, a low-observable standoff missile equipped with a HAL PTAE-7 turbojet engine, optimized for integration with IAF fighter jets. Despite initial progress, updates on these programs have been limited, and the lack of visible advancement signals the need for renewed focus.
Expediting the development of indigenous cruise missiles will reduce India’s dependency on foreign suppliers and give it a self-reliant edge in standoff capabilities. Furthermore, locally produced missiles can be tailored to specific operational needs, ensuring flexibility in both deployment and integration with diverse airframes beyond just the Rafale. Such advancements would also strengthen India’s broader defense posture, adding strategic value to platforms like the Su-30MKI and Tejas Mark 1A.
Accelerated development of DRDO’s stealth ALCM and HAL’s CATS Hunter could also stimulate further innovation in supporting technologies such as propulsion systems, stealth materials, and data link systems, fostering a more robust defense industry ecosystem. With an indigenous cruise missile system, the IAF could deploy these munitions on a wider range of fighters, increasing its operational reach and enhancing its deterrent posture.