SOURCE: AFI
India successfully conducted a test of its Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile System on 16th Nov 2024 from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island, off-the-coast of Odisha. as per DRDO, the Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile System test is a significant milestone in the country’s hypersonic weapons program. With this achievement, India joins an elite group of nations possessing nearly all categories of hypersonic weaponry.
Recent trials feature a Boost-Glide Vehicle configuration. Named the Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile System, this test showcases India’s strides in developing advanced hypersonic systems tailored for dynamic military applications, including targeting maneuverable maritime threats.
Hypersonic glide vehicles combine the speed of ballistic missiles with enhanced maneuverability, offering significant advantages over traditional systems. Traditional ballistic missiles, while effective, lack the precision required for engaging moving targets, such as ships. HGVs address this limitation by incorporating maneuverable glide vehicles that operate independently after their launch phase, ensuring adaptability during flight.
India’s tested system follows a similar design philosophy but is likely optimized for unique operational scenarios, including coastal defense and naval blockade scenarios. While news of which was reported in the media last week official confirmation is yet to come.