DRDO flight-tests 1,000-km Long Range Land Attack Cruise Missile

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Tuesday carried out the first flight test of its Long Range Land Attack Cruise Missile (LRLACM), which has a strike range of 1,000 kilometres.

The subsonic missile was test-fired from a mobile launcher stationed at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur, off the Odisha coast.

The test carried out for validating the LRLACM’s sub-systems met all performance parametres, according to DRDO.

An entire range of tracking and monitoring systems, including radars, electro-optical tracking systems and telemetry deployed at ITR were used to assess the performance of the missile.

The missile used all its navigation systems and demonstrated manoeuvring capabilities at various speeds and altitudes.

The missile is equipped with advanced avionics and software to ensure better and reliable performance, according to DRDO.

LRLACM has been developed by the Aeronautical Development Establishment, Bengaluru with support from other DRDO laboratories and Indian industries. 

Development and production of the missile, including system integration, were undertaken by Bharat Dynamics Limited, Hyderabad and Bharat Electronics Limited, Bengaluru.

LRLACM is a mission-mode project as the Defence Acquisition Council had approved it as an essential force multiplier for the Indian Army.

The missile can also be launched from frontline ships using universal vertical launch module.

Defence minister Rajnath Singh and DRDO chairman and secretary in the Department of Defence R&D, Samir V Kamat, complemented DRDO and the industry on the successful maiden flight test, which would lead to indigenous cruise missile development.