DRDO Unveils Long Range Anti-Ship Hypersonic Missile
Why focus: GS3 S&T: Core defence proxy. Tests conceptual clarity on quasi-ballistic vs cruise trajectories and Mach 5 speeds via Assertion-Reason.
In News
What Happened
Why It Matters
Background
History & Context
What Changed
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BEFORE: India's primary anti-ship strike capability relied heavily on the supersonic BrahMos missile family (Mach 2.8 to 3.0) with operational ranges historically limited to under 800 km. NOW: The LR-AShM introduces true hypersonic capability (Mach 5 to 10) and nearly doubles the strike radius to 1,500 km.
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BEFORE: Standard ballistic missiles followed predictable parabolic arcs, while traditional cruise missiles relied on sea-skimming, both of which modern advanced radars are increasingly capable of tracking. NOW: The LR-AShM utilizes a quasi-ballistic trajectory with atmospheric skips, dramatically complicating tracking and interception by enemy air defenses.
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BEFORE: High-speed, long-range missile platforms frequently relied on imported critical components for guidance and avionics. NOW: The LR-AShM features fully indigenous avionics, marking a major milestone in India's 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' defense manufacturing goals.
Prelims Angle
NCERT Connection
Practice Questions
Q1
With Reference ToWith reference to the Long Range Anti-Ship Hypersonic Missile (LR-AShM) showcased by DRDO, consider the following statements: 1. It relies on a traditional parabolic ballistic trajectory to achieve its 1,500 km range. 2. It features fully indigenous avionics and is capable of reaching peak speeds of Mach 10. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?