SOURCE: IDRW.ORG
Reports from Greek media outlets, including platforms like Pentapostagma and GeoStratigika, have sparked intense speculation about a strategic defense proposal from India to Greece. According to these sources, India has unofficially offered its Long-Range Land Attack Cruise Missile (LR-LACM) to Greece, a move that could significantly alter the balance of power in the Aegean region. With a range of up to 1,500 km, dual warhead capabilities, pinpoint accuracy, and extreme maneuverability, the LR-LACM is being touted as a potential game-changer that could target Turkish airbases, radar installations, and air defense systems in the opening hours of a conflict. This development, unveiled at the DEFEA 2025 exhibition in Athens, comes alongside a strengthening of India-Greece military ties, raising concerns in Ankara about a shifting strategic landscape.
The Long-Range Land Attack Cruise Missile (LR-LACM), developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), represents a significant leap in India’s indigenous missile technology. First successfully tested on November 12, 2024, at the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, Odisha, the subsonic cruise missile boasts a range of 1,500 km when launched from land and 1,000 km from naval platforms.
Capable of carrying either conventional or nuclear warheads, the LR-LACM is designed for precision strikes on high-value strategic targets, including command centers, infrastructure, and military installations. Its advanced avionics, waypoint navigation, and terrain-hugging flight profile enable it to evade radar detection and perform complex maneuvers, making it a formidable weapon against modern air defense systems.
The missile, a derivative of the Nirbhay cruise missile, is powered by the indigenous Manik Small Turbofan Engine (STFE) and is compatible with the Universal Vertical Launch Module (UVLM), already operational on 30 Indian Navy warships. Its versatility allows deployment from mobile ground platforms, naval vessels, and potentially air-launched variants, offering flexibility for multi-domain operations. At DEFEA 2025, held in Athens from May 13–15, 2025, the LR-LACM drew significant attention for its capabilities, which rival established systems like the U.S. Tomahawk and Russia’s Kalibr missiles. Indian representatives at the exhibition expressed openness to international partnerships, hinting at potential collaboration with allied nations like Greece.
Greek media reports suggest that the LR-LACM could provide Greece with a strategic edge in its longstanding rivalry with Turkey, particularly in the Aegean Sea, where tensions over territorial waters, airspace, and energy resources persist. With a 1,500 km range, the missile could theoretically strike Turkish airbases, radar sites, and air defense systems, including Turkey’s Russian-made S-400 batteries, in the early stages of a conflict. Greek analysts have drawn parallels to Israel’s rapid dismantling of Iran’s air defenses in 18 hours during a recent operation, suggesting that the LR-LACM could give Greece a similar capability to neutralize Turkey’s military infrastructure swiftly.
Posts on X and reports from Turkish media, such as TR Haber, have expressed alarm over India’s alleged offer, framing it as a “revenge move” in response to Turkey’s support for Pakistan during the India-Pakistan conflict in May 2025, known as Operation Sindoor. Turkey’s backing of Islamabad, including reported supplies of Baykar drones and munitions, strained India-Turkey relations, prompting India to deepen ties with Greece, Turkey’s archrival. The integration of the LR-LACM with Greece’s Rafale and F-16 Viper jets, as suggested by analysts on X, could enhance Athens’ ability to project power and deter Turkish aggression in the Aegean.
The reported offer coincides with a high-level visit by Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh to Athens, where he met with his Greek counterpart and engaged in discussions with Greek aircrews, including time spent in a Rafale simulator. While it remains unclear whether the LR-LACM was explicitly discussed during these talks, the visit underscored the growing military cooperation between India and Greece. Both nations share a mutual interest in countering regional adversaries—Turkey for Greece and Pakistan for India—while leveraging advanced defense technologies.
India and Greece have been expanding bilateral defense ties in recent years, with Greece acquiring 24 Rafale jets from France, a platform also operated by the Indian Air Force. The potential integration of the LR-LACM into Greece’s arsenal could complement these jets, providing a long-range strike capability that enhances deterrence against Turkey’s modernizing air force and air defense systems. The DEFEA 2025 exhibition provided a platform for Indian officials to showcase the missile’s capabilities and express willingness for collaboration, with one official reportedly telling Ptisi Magazine, “This was the reason for our presence at this year’s DEFEA.”
For Turkey, the prospect of Greece acquiring the LR-LACM represents a strategic nightmare. Turkish media outlets have highlighted concerns that the missile’s range and precision could threaten key military assets, including airbases in Izmir and Çanakkale, radar installations along the Aegean coast, and even the S-400 systems deployed to counter Greek airpower. Turkey’s acquisition of the S-400 has already strained its relations with NATO and the U.S., leading to its exclusion from the F-35 program, while Greece’s planned acquisition of F-35 jets by 2030 could further shift the regional balance. The addition of the LR-LACM to Greece’s arsenal would amplify this shift, potentially forcing Turkey to accelerate its own missile and air defense programs.
The reported offer also comes in the context of Greece’s efforts to modernize its air defense capabilities. Greece is phasing out Russian-made systems like the S-300 PMU-1 and Tor-M1, replacing them with Israeli systems such as David’s Sling and Barak MX to create an “Iron Dome” over the Aegean by 2026. The LR-LACM could complement these defensive upgrades by providing an offensive capability to neutralize threats before they reach Greek airspace. However, the unverified nature of the reports suggests caution, as no official confirmation has been issued by Indian or Greek authorities.
While the LR-LACM’s capabilities are impressive, its potential transfer to Greece raises several questions. First, the missile is still in the testing phase, with a second flight test scheduled for 2025 and operational deployment expected by 2028–29. Any transfer would likely occur only after India completes its own procurement, estimated at ?14,000 crore for 200 missiles. Second, the integration of the LR-LACM with Greek platforms like Rafale and F-16 jets would require significant technical collaboration, including modifications to fire-control systems and training for Greek personnel.
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