SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is forging ahead with an ambitious project to deliver a Long Range Land Attack Cruise Missile (LACM) capable of striking targets 1500 km away, launched directly from submarine torpedo tubes. Built on the technological backbone of the Indigenous Technology Cruise Missile (ITCM) program, this missile promises to revolutionize the Indian Navy’s underwater strike capabilities.
A DRDO official, speaking to idrw.org, revealed that the missile’s universal design will ensure compatibility with existing Kilo and Kalvari-class submarines, the forthcoming German U-214NG boats under Project-75I, and the indigenous Project-76 and nuclear-powered SSN programs slated for post-2030 deployment. With minor design tweaks underway to meet the Navy’s demand for extended range, this LACM is poised to be a game-changer by 2028.
The missile, an evolution of the subsonic Nirbhay/ITCM family, leverages a proven Small Turbo Fan Engine (STFE) from GTRE and advanced navigation systems honed over 20 developmental trials since 2013. “The Navy has demanded more range, so we’re making minor design changes,” the official explained. “Torpedo tube launch makes it universal, allowing integration across both conventional diesel-electric and nuclear attack submarines.” This adaptability ensures the LACM can arm India’s diverse submarine fleet—17 operational boats today, dwindling to 12 by 2030 without new inductions—bridging capability gaps against regional rivals like China (60+ subs) and Pakistan (8 AIP-equipped subs).
The LACM’s torpedo tube compatibility is its standout feature. At 5.6-6 meters long and 505-520 mm in diameter (based on ITCM specs), it fits the 533 mm tubes standard on Kilo-class (Sindhughosh) and Kalvari-class (Scorpene) submarines, requiring no structural retrofits. For the U-214NG, a ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) design India is negotiating under Project-75I’s ?70,000 crore deal, the missile slots into existing torpedo infrastructure, complementing the six AIP-equipped boats expected by 2032. The indigenous Project-76—six diesel-electric subs with 90-95% local content, awaiting CCS approval—will also field this LACM, with its first hull due by 2033. Post-2030, the Navy’s six SSN nuclear attack submarines, approved in 2024 at ?35,000 crore, will integrate this weapon, amplifying India’s underwater deterrence in the Indo-Pacific.
“Submarines launched LACMs will be ready by 2028,” the DRDO official affirmed, aligning with trials planned for Kilo-class boats within 2-3 years, as reported by idrw.org. Unlike the warship-launched LRLACM (tested November 2024 from a UVLM), which shares the 1500 km range but requires Vertical Launch Systems (VLS), the torpedo tube variant prioritizes universality. This dual-track approach—warship VLS and submarine tubes—mirrors U.S. Tomahawk strategies, offering flexibility across platforms like INS Chennai and future SSNs.
The 1500 km range, a leap from the ITCM’s 800-1000 km and the SLCM’s initial 402 km (tested February 2023), responds to the Navy’s need for deep-strike capability from safer standoff distances. Minor design tweaks—likely extended fuel tanks or optimized aerodynamics—preserve its subsonic Mach 0.7 speed and 975-1000 kg weight, ensuring torpedo tube fitment. “Design and fabrication for warship requirements are underway, but the submarine version is on a parallel fast track,” the official noted. Equipped with INS/GPS navigation, RF seekers, and Digital Scene Matching Area Correlation (DSMAC) for terminal precision, the LACM will deliver 300 kg warheads—conventional or potentially nuclear—against land targets with terrain-hugging stealth.
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