India’s DRDO test fires BMD against long-range ballistic missiles by testing AD-1 and AD-2 missiles, anti-ship capability at medium range by testing the NASM-MR and strike capability with the Rudram-2 and LRLACM missiles.
The Medium Range Anti-Ship Missile (MRAShM) is an upcoming surface-to-surface weapon for the Indian Navy, based on the Soviet-era Kh-31 missile and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Featuring a turbojet engine, it can sea-skim and strike maritime targets at ranges up to 200 km.
Equipped with navigation capabilities, the missile can utilize Radio Frequency (RF) seekers for terminal precision targeting.
The three consecutive flight tests were conducted for AD-1, AD-2, and NASM-MR on June 10 and 11, 2026. The BMD interceptors successfully engaged their respective targets and validated the capability to intercept even ICBMs. AD-1 and AD-2 are part of India’s Phase-2 BMD program. AD-1 is an endo-atmospheric, short-range missile, while AD-2 is exo-atmospheric and has a longer range.
Phase-3 of the BMD program has been initiated with the development of AD-AH and AD-AM missiles underway. These are expected maneuvering and MIRV threats, respectively. The Indian Navy can also be expected to be an eventual user of these BMD systems given the emergence of threats like the DF-26B. India had tested a Phase-1 endo-atmospheric BMD missile, named AAD, from INS Anvesh in 2023.
The maiden flight test of the Naval Anti-Ship Missile-Medium Range (NASM-MR) was carried out successfully. NASM-MR has a range of about 200 km, with midcourse INS + GPS guidance and a radar altimeter for sea-skimming. Terminal guidance utilises an X-band AESA RF seeker, unlike the NASM-SR, which uses an IIR seeker. NASM-MR is equipped with a datalink and a penetration-cum-blast warhead. The NASM-MR is expected to be powered by a DRDO ATGG turbofan engine during full-scale production. However, initial testing was slated to utilise a Safran engine.
NASM-MR is originally an ‘Air to Ship’ weapon designed for the MiG-29K, which can carry four such missiles, and the project was officially cleared in 2023. Other aircraft are also expected to be integrated with the missile, like the Tejas Mk1A (which can carry up to five such missiles) and the C-295 MRMR. The maiden test, however, was from an 8×8 Tata truck launcher.
The ground launched variant features a large solid rocket booster and is expected to be offered as a product. A ship-launched version is also expected as a Medium Range Anti-Ship Missile (MRAShM), with 450 to be procured for shipborne use. Another project for ‘Glidefire’ missiles is also in a similar class as NASM-MR.
The MiG-29K is currently equipped with Rampage and Kh-35E missiles. In the future, NASM-MR and Rudram-2 missiles will also be integrated. The Rudram-2 was tested on June 2, 2026, from an IAF Su-30 MKI and is a 200 km range supersonic missile with RF and IIR seekers for anti-radar and ground attack.
LRLACM based on Russia’s inaccurate Kh-55 cruise missile
India’s subsonic Long Range Land Attack Cruise Missile (LRLACM) is a project developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) based on a direct derivative of the Russian Kh-55.
While it serves a similar tactical role to the Kh-55 and the U.S. Tomahawk, it is rooted in India’s Nirbhay and ITCM programs, which were initiated with Russia’s assistance and modelled on the Kh-55. The Kh-55 has proven inaccurate in the war in Ukraine due to its unreliable guidance and inertial navigation system.
The LRLACM project features several distinct design elements that are identical to those of early Soviet-era cruise missiles. The missile is powered by the Manik small turbofan engine (STFE), built by BrahMos Aerospace based on a Soviet-era turbofan engine.
It has an estimated range exceeding 1,000 km and cruises at a subsonic speed of approximately Mach 0.8. Unlike earlier generation Russian designs, the LRLACM features an advanced Indian guidance suite utilizing Ring Laser Gyroscope (RLG) inertial navigation, GPS, and a NavIC (IRNSS) constellation.
It acts as a terrain-hugging, loitering weapon designed for deep-penetration strikes on high-value targets. The LRLACM has been approved for procurement across all three branches of the Indian Armed Forces, with the Indian Air Force and Indian Army both actively placing acquisition commitments.
On June 15, the subsonic LRLACM was also tested. First tested in 2024, the missiles are expected to form an integral part of the Navy and IAF strike operations. LRLACM is powered by the DRDO STFE turbofan engine.
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