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The Indian Navy is actively evaluating advanced submarine-launched cruise missiles (SLCM) from European and Russian suppliers to equip its submarine fleet with a crucial long-range strike capability.
This move comes as the indigenous SLCM program, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), faces a timeline that extends towards the end of the decade, creating a need for an interim, proven system.
Recent reports indicate that European consortium MBDA has offered its Naval Cruise Missile (NCM), also known as MdCN, for the Indian Navy's consideration.
This proposal places the NCM in direct competition with Russia's Kalibr cruise missile, which was proposed earlier. Both systems are being considered to fill a critical operational gap and enhance the deep-strike potential of India's current and future submarines while the domestic Nirbhay-based missile continues its development.
The NCM from MBDA is a naval version of the well-known SCALP-EG air-launched cruise missile, engineered for high-precision attacks on strategic land targets. The missile, which weighs 1,400 kg, can be launched from submarines to strike targets up to 1,000 km away and from surface ships up to 1,400 km.
It features a sophisticated guidance system using GPS, terrain-mapping, and an infrared seeker for terminal accuracy.
Its effectiveness has been demonstrated in combat, notably in April 2018 when French frigates used it in strikes against chemical weapons facilities in Syria, and again in a coordinated frigate-submarine launch in April 2024.
The combat-proven status of the NCM presents it as a reliable, off-the-shelf solution for the Navy’s immediate requirements.
A key advantage of the NCM is its compatibility with the 533 mm torpedo tubes used on India’s Kalvari-class (Scorpene) submarines. This makes it a strong candidate for the Navy’s next-generation Project 75-India (P-75I) submarines, where MBDA is already partnered with Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL).
Meanwhile, Russia has put forward its 3M-14 Kalibr land-attack cruise missile as a direct competitor. The Kalibr system, which has been extensively used by the Russian Navy in conflicts including Syria and Ukraine, boasts a strike range estimated between 1,500 and 2,500 km.
The Russian proposal is reportedly part of a larger defence package that could include leasing a nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) and upgrading India's existing Kilo-class fleet.
The existing familiarity of the Indian Navy with Russian Kilo-class platforms offers a potential logistical advantage for integrating the Kalibr system. However, geopolitical factors, including Western sanctions on Russia, have raised questions about future supply chain reliability.
Parallel to these foreign procurement efforts, the DRDO is advancing its own indigenous subsonic cruise missile based on the Nirbhay platform. This missile is being designed for launch from standard 533 mm torpedo tubes and has a projected range of 1,000-1,500 km.
The DRDO’s Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) is leading the project, which has seen successful tests from an underwater pontoon, including a 402-km flight in November 2024.
However, the path to full operational induction for the indigenous SLCM is lengthy. The complex process of integrating the missile with a submarine and conducting extensive user trials means it is not expected to be ready for deployment before 2030.
This extended timeline has compelled the Indian Navy to explore foreign alternatives to ensure its new P-75I submarines, expected to enter service around 2031, are equipped with a credible land-attack cruise missile capability from day one.
