India’s strategic strike capabilities are poised for a significant transformation as the indigenous Long Range Land Attack Cruise Missile (LRLACM) and its naval counterpart, the Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRAShM), edge closer to operational deployment.
Sources confirm that both programmes, powered by the domestically developed Manik turbofan engine, are progressing on schedule and are expected to be inducted into the Indian Army and Indian Navy within the next three years.
Unified Architecture for Multi-Domain Dominance
Both missile systems are subsonic cruise missiles built upon a unified core architecture and propulsion system.This modular design philosophy allows the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to field multiple variants tailored for specific operational roles while simplifying logistics and maintenance.
Central to this success is the indigenous Manik engine, officially known as the Small Turbofan Engine (STFE).
Developed by the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), this 4.5 kN thrust class engine has replaced earlier Russian NPO Saturn power plants, marking a critical leap in India’s self-reliance.
The engine enables sustained low-altitude "sea-skimming" and terrain-hugging flights, making the missiles difficult to detect by enemy radar.
Army Variant Leads the Way
The land-attack variant (LRLACM), primarily intended for the Indian Army, is currently the frontrunner in the development race.According to defence sources, this variant has already successfully completed key flight tests—including a significant trial in November 2024—which demonstrated the maturity of its aerodynamic design and the reliability of the Manik propulsion system.
This missile is reported to have a strike range exceeding 1,000 kilometres and features advanced avionics, including waypoint navigation, allowing it to loiter and strike high-value targets with precision.
In parallel, the Submarine-Launched Cruise Missile (SLCM) variant has also undergone testing, proving that the missile family is being engineered for flexible deployment across land, sea, and underwater platforms.
Naval Integration and Upcoming Trials
The developmental focus has now shifted toward the warship-launched anti-ship variant, which will also retain the dual capability to conduct land-attack missions.The Indian Navy and DRDO are currently collaborating on integrating the missile with the Universal Vertical Launch Module (UVLM) found on frontline destroyers and frigates.
Preparations are currently underway for live firing trials from an Indian Navy surface combatant.
These critical tests, which will validate ship-borne command-and-control integration and mission planning systems, are scheduled to take place by late 2026 or early 2027.
Success in these trials will be a decisive step toward granting operational clearance for the naval variant.
A Phased Induction Plan
From a sequencing perspective, the Army’s land-attack version is expected to enter service first, given its advanced testing status.The naval variant will follow closely behind, once it completes the additional validation required for maritime launch conditions.
Once inducted, these missiles will dramatically enhance India’s long-range precision strike capability.
They will provide the Army with deep-strike options to target adversary infrastructure and the Navy with a potent, indigenous solution for anti-ship warfare, significantly strengthening India’s deterrence posture across the Indian Ocean Region.
