India’s ITCM Cruise Missile to Integrate Advanced Flare Decoys for Self-Defence against MANPADS and Heat-Seeking Close-Combat Missiles

In a significant step to enhance its strategic strike capabilities, India is equipping its domestically developed long-range cruise missile with an advanced self-protection system.

The Indigenous Technology Cruise Missile (ITCM), a subsonic weapon with a range of 1,500 kilometres, will be integrated with flare-dispensing technology to defend against heat-seeking projectiles, according to official sources.

This crucial upgrade is designed to improve the missile's survivability during missions.

Developed by the DRDO, the ITCM is engineered to fly at very low altitudes, a tactic known as "sea-skimming" or "terrain-hugging," which helps it evade enemy radar detection.

However, this low-flight profile makes it susceptible to attack from shoulder-fired Man-Portable Air-Defence Systems (MANPADS) and other short-range, infrared-guided missiles that home in on an engine's heat signature.

The new countermeasure system will allow the ITCM to release pyrotechnic flares, which burn at temperatures hotter than the missile's engine exhaust.

These flares act as decoys, presenting a more attractive target to an incoming heat-seeking missile's guidance system, thereby diverting the threat away from the ITCM and allowing it to proceed to its target.

This technology is a critical defensive measure for protecting high-value assets in modern combat scenarios.

The ITCM program represents a key achievement in India's push for self-reliance in defence technology. It is an advanced version of the earlier Nirbhay missile and is powered by the indigenous Manik turbo-fan engine, developed by DRDO's Gas Turbine Research Establishment.

The missile has undergone several successful flight tests, validating its engine performance and low-altitude flight capabilities.

Intended for deployment across the Indian Army, Air Force, and Navy, the ITCM is set to become a cornerstone of the nation's planned Integrated Rocket Force. This tri-service command will be responsible for operating a range of conventional and strategic missile systems.

The decision to add a defensive flare system has been influenced by observations from recent global conflicts, where low-flying missiles and drones have proven vulnerable to sophisticated air defence systems.

This development underscores India's strategy of not only creating advanced indigenous weapon systems but also ensuring they are resilient and capable of surviving in a complex and contested battlefield environment.

While the integration of flares significantly boosts the missile's defensive capacity, its ultimate effectiveness will be determined through extensive testing against the latest generation of MANPADS and other advanced threats.

 

India plans $230 million drone incentive after Pakistan conflict, sources say

IAF's Second Order of 97 Tejas Mk1A to Feature Higher Indigenous Content and Enhanced Software by Taking Feedback from Current Order

[sanket]

Good, its range 1500 km is unmatched with a counter protection system featuring flares. It will be one in the world; that's the power of home-grown R&D over foreign. Some fools, jokers, comedians who were saying the indigenous cruise project has been failed, this is an eye-opener for them and a big slap on their face.

 

[Sunny]

Not just flares, we need to update the design with stealth shaping. Many Russian cruise missiles were intercepted in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine. Also, the pathetic performance of Pakistan's drones and missiles in Operation Sindoor points to how a well-established air defence system is effective. We need to ensure our cruise missiles and drones have stealth to be effective in any future conflict.

 

[abhinav srivastava]

Have a 2,500 km variant for the eastern border as well. Looking at recent wars, we need missiles in large numbers.

 

[Sandeep]

This is a critical requirement and the entire military needs this long range subsonic cruise missile. The 1500km range is a very good start but we will definitely need to increase that range even further. We should definitely make this as a stealthy missile by using more composites and painting it with stealth paint to make it very difficult to intercept.

Installing missile released flares is a first time concept used by Russia quite successfully in Ukraine to kill it. The only issue is how and when should those flares be released and how that missile will find out of an incoming missile launched to intercept it? This will take some time to develop, refine and perfect the technology.

Our military are in urgent need of cheap indigenous and long range missiles and we ideally need thousands of missiles in a war. We should first develop the missile without flares and start production so we start to build up our stock and capabilities. While production starts we can start and perfect the missile with flares and then start production of the advanced variant whenever it’s ready.

 

[SivaBalan Kumaravel]

The missile will have a seeker, not a full-fledged radar. Then how will it identify incoming heat-seeking missiles and trigger the flare system? Just a doubt...

 

[Banjo Strings]

@Sandeep
The missile cannot "find out". Satellite monitoring may be necessary during its flight if we are talking about 1500 km.

 

[Sandeep]

@Sandeep
The missile cannot "find out". Satellite monitoring may be necessary during its flight if we are talking about 1500 km.

They could add sensors or lasers to detect any incoming interceptor missile and if it gets too close then it can release its flares. This is one way to do that but the missile will require a lot of design changes, increase missiles costs and needs a lot of refinement before it’s a success.