SOURCE: AFI
India’s Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRAShM) represents a significant leap in hypersonic weapons development, utilizing advanced propulsion and guidance systems to deliver precision strikes at unprecedented speeds. Notably, the operational principle of India’s hypersonic LRAShM draws parallels to China’s Dong Feng-17 (DF-17), a medium-range missile system equipped with a hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV).
Understanding the working mechanism of the DF-17 helps contextualize the sophistication and potential of hypersonic systems like the LRAShM.
The DF-17 is a road-mobile, medium-range ballistic missile system developed by China. Its operational range is estimated to be 1,800–2,500 kilometers. The missile system’s defining feature is its hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV), which gives it enhanced maneuverability, speed, and stealth.
Here’s a breakdown of its working principle:
1. Ballistic Launch Phase
The DF-17 employs a conventional medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) as its booster. During the initial launch phase, the missile uses solid-fuel propulsion to climb to a high altitude, typically in the upper atmosphere, at hypersonic speeds exceeding Mach 5.
2. Separation and Glide Vehicle Deployment
Once the missile reaches a predefined altitude and velocity, the hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) separates from the booster. The HGV, equipped with advanced aerodynamic shaping, begins its autonomous flight.
3. Hypersonic Glide Phase
The HGV utilizes the kinetic energy imparted by the booster to glide through the atmosphere at hypersonic speeds, typically Mach 5–10. Key features of this phase include:
- Maneuverability: The HGV can execute sharp turns and evasive maneuvers, making it difficult to intercept using conventional missile defense systems.
- Low-altitude Flight: Unlike traditional ballistic missiles, the HGV flies at lower altitudes, reducing radar visibility and detection time.
4. Target Strike
As the HGV nears its target, it performs terminal maneuvers to evade last-minute defenses and ensure a precise strike. The warhead—either conventional or nuclear—is delivered with high accuracy, thanks to advanced onboard guidance systems.
India’s LRAShM, designed as an hypersonic missile, that operates on similar principles to the DF-17 but has unique characteristics suited to Indian strategic needs. LRAShM can be configured for launches from both land-based platforms and naval vessels, making it a versatile tool for coastal defense, anti-ship operations, and long-range precision strikes.
Like DF-17, LRAShM also uses a medium-range ballistic missile system likely based on the K-4 SLBM as its booster. Once the missile reaches a predefined altitude and velocity, the hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) separates from the booster and travels at Mach 6+ speed towards its Target while carrying out terminal maneuvers to make it more difficult for any Air Defence systems.
India’s LRAShM provides a critical counterbalance to regional threats, ensuring that the Indian Air Force (IAF) can strike high-value targets at hypersonic speeds. This capability significantly boosts India’s strategic deterrence and offensive potential.