Source: PIB
Context: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted the maiden flight test of the Long-Range Land Attack Cruise Missile (LRLACM), a state-of-the-art indigenous missile with a range of 1,000 km.
About LRLACM:
- Range and Performance:
- Range: 1,000 km with precision strike capability.
- Equipped with advanced avionics and software for reliability and efficiency.
- This is a new variant of Nirbhay LRLACM with improved features
- Development:
- Developed by Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), Bengaluru, with contributions from DRDO labs and Indian industries.
- Bharat Dynamics Limited and Bharat Electronics Limited are key development-cum-production partners.
- Design and Navigation:
- Configured for ground launch using mobile articulated launchers and naval launch from ships using universal vertical launch modules.
- Strategic Significance:
- Provides the armed forces with long-range standoff capabilities, comparable to the U.S. Tomahawk cruise missile.
- Approval:
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- Approved by the Defence Acquisition Council in July 2020.
About Nirbhay Cruise Missile:
- Type and Range: Sub-sonic long-range cruise missile with a strike capability of up to 1,000 km.
- Development: Designed by Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), under DRDO, Bengaluru.
- Launch and Propulsion: Uses a solid booster for launch, transitioning to a turbojet engine for sustained flight.
- Capabilities:
- Deep penetration to target high-value assets with precision.
- Capable of loitering and operating at very low altitudes (~100 meters).
- Warhead options: Can carry both conventional and nuclear payloads weighing 200-300 kg.
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