SOURCE: AFI
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Turkish media outlets have erupted in alarm over unconfirmed reports that India has “unofficially offered” its Long-Range Land Attack Cruise Missile (LR-LACM) to Greece, a NATO ally and Turkey’s longstanding regional rival. The reports, originating from Greek defense platforms and amplified by Turkish news outlets like TR Haber, have sparked intense speculation and unease in Ankara, framing the potential deal as a strategic move by India to counter Turkey’s support for Pakistan during the May 2025 India-Pakistan conflict, Operation Sindoor. With the LR-LACM’s 1,000–1,500 km range and precision strike capabilities, Turkish media fear it could tilt the balance of power in the Aegean, threatening key military assets and escalating tensions in an already volatile region.
Developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the LR-LACM is a subsonic cruise missile designed for precision deep-strike missions against high-value targets, such as airbases, radar installations, and command centers. First tested successfully on November 12, 2024, at the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, Odisha, the missile boasts a range of 1,500 km from land-based platforms and 1,000 km from naval platforms, powered by the indigenous Manik Small Turbofan Engine (STFE).
Its advanced navigation systems, including inertial navigation, GPS, and terrain contour matching (TERCOM), enable pinpoint accuracy with a circular error probable (CEP) of less than 10 meters. Capable of carrying conventional or nuclear warheads, the missile’s low-altitude, terrain-hugging flight profile makes it difficult to intercept, drawing comparisons to the U.S. Tomahawk and Russia’s Kalibr missiles.
The LR-LACM’s versatility is enhanced by its compatibility with mobile articulated launchers and the Universal Vertical Launch Module (UVLM), already deployed on 30 Indian Navy warships. Its ability to perform complex maneuvers and evade advanced air defense systems, such as Turkey’s S-400 batteries, has fueled Turkish concerns about its potential deployment by Greece.
Turkish media, particularly TR Haber, have reacted with alarmist headlines, with one article titled “India brings cruise missiles with a range of 1,000 km to the Aegean! They will target Turkey!” The outlet cited Greek media reports, including GeoStratigika and Pentapostagma, claiming that India’s offer was made during the DEFEA 2025 defense exhibition in Athens, where the LR-LACM was prominently showcased. Turkish reports speculate that the missile could enable Greece to target strategic assets, including airbases in Izmir and Çanakkale, radar installations along the Aegean coast, and even Turkey’s S-400 systems, which have strained its relations with NATO allies.
The Turkish narrative frames India’s move as a “revenge move” in response to Turkey’s support for Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, where Turkey reportedly supplied drones, sent air force personnel, and deployed a warship to assist Islamabad.
Turkish media also allege that Greece sought operational insights from India’s Operation Sindoor, particularly regarding the performance of Rafale jets, to prepare for potential confrontations with the Turkish Air Force. These claims, though unverified, suggest that Greece aims to develop training scenarios based on India’s combat tactics, further stoking fears of a strategic India-Greece alignment against Turkey.
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