India tests its own ‘Tomahawk’ missile

India has successfully flight-tested the indigenously developed Long-Range Land Attack Cruise Missile (LRLACM), boosting the country’s deep- and precision-strike capabilities.

The LRLACM can change altitudes and speeds in flight, much like the US Navy’s Tomahawk missile, leading some commentators to call it India’s Tomahawk.

India’s Defense Research & Development Organization (DRDO) conducted the test from Dr. Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha, according to an official statement.

Data from tracking instruments deployed by the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur showed that all test objectives were met.

The cruise missile reportedly has a speed of up to 0.8 Mach and is capable of hitting targets in excess of 620 miles (1,000 kilometers). It can evade radar by flying low and is capable of carrying a 500-kg warhead, reports suggest.

The missile is expected to add to the strike capabilities of the Indian Navy and Air Force as New Delhi builds out its missile arsenal. A few other tests were also conducted by the DRDO last week, including interceptor missiles for India’s ballistic missile defense shield.

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India used the BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles last year to strike targets inside Pakistan during a brief clash following a terrorist attack in Kashmir.

BrahMos Aerospace, a joint venture between DRDO and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya rocket design bureau, makes the BrahMos cruise missiles in land, air, and sea variants.

The LRLACM’s successful test comes after the reported failure of the similar long-range Nirbhay missile project.

The cruise missile was developed entirely with indigenous technologies. All its sub-systems were developed by DRDO-backed laboratories and domestic industry partners. The Aeronautical Development Establishment in the southern city of Bengaluru functioned as the Nodal Laboratory of the project.