DRDO’s Naval LR-SAM to Intercept Mach 7 ASBMs with 300km Range

In a significant leap for India's naval air defense capabilities, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is developing a next-generation Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (LR-SAM) system for the Indian Navy, capable of intercepting anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBMs) traveling at speeds up to Mach 7. The system, under active development, is expected to have a strike range between 200 to 300 kilometers, placing it among the most advanced naval missile shields in the Indo-Pacific.

This new missile system forms part of India’s Project Kusha, an ambitious initiative to create a family of indigenous long-range interceptors to protect Indian airspace and maritime assets from evolving missile threats.

Designed for the Maritime Threat Environment

The naval LR-SAM is specifically engineered to counter modern high-speed threats, including ballistic missiles aimed at aircraft carriers and frontline naval vessels. According to sources familiar with the program, the missile is expected to engage incoming ASBMs in their terminal phase, a highly challenging interception profile due to the projectile's steep angle and hypersonic velocity.

Designed as a naval variant of the M2 interceptor from Project Kusha, this missile offers a range bracket of 250–300 km and is likely to be equipped with advanced seekers and thrust vector control for terminal guidance precision.

Specifications and Features (Expected)

Strategic Significance

The development comes at a time when anti-ship ballistic missiles like China’s DF-21D and DF-26 pose an increasing threat to surface fleets, particularly in contested maritime regions. With China fielding long-range carrier-killer missiles and testing them in the Indo-Pacific, India's naval doctrine is now shifting toward hardened fleet defense capabilities.

According to BharatShakti.in, the Indian Navy’s version of the LR-SAM will function similarly to the U.S. Navy’s SM-6, offering both anti-air and anti-ballistic missile roles as part of a comprehensive layered defense architecture.

Defence analysts believe that equipping Indian warships with such interceptors will dramatically reduce their vulnerability to standoff missile strikes, particularly during high-value operations involving aircraft carriers or amphibious task groups.

Project Kusha and the Interceptor Family

Project Kusha, DRDO’s flagship program for advanced air defense, includes three variants:

• M1: ~150 km range

• M2: ~250–300 km range (naval and land-based)

• M3: 350–400 km range with potential for hypersonic threat interception

The naval LR-SAM derives its capability base from the M2 missile, with adaptations for vertical launch integration and ship-based fire control systems.

In April 2023, DRDO conducted successful trials of Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) systems at sea, validating India's technological readiness to intercept high-speed projectiles in naval environments.

Expert Commentary

A senior Navy officer familiar with the program stated:

“This system will provide our fleets with a formidable defensive umbrella. The ability to intercept ASBMs at Mach 7 is not only a technical milestone but a necessity in future sea-based warfare.”

According to SPS Naval Forces, the system is already undergoing initial lab-level testing, with full-scale ship-based trials expected by 2027. Integration with the Navy’s new-generation destroyers and frigates is planned once testing and validation are complete.

Boost to Indigenous Capability

The development of this advanced missile system is in line with the Aatmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) initiative, pushing DRDO and Indian industry to replace foreign missile defense systems like Israel’s Barak-8 and Russia’s S-300 variants with homegrown solutions.

The LR-SAM will operate in tandem with existing systems such as the VL-SRSAM and MR-SAM, creating a multi-layered defense net around naval platforms operating in hostile or contested waters.

The DRDO’s naval LR-SAM is poised to become a game-changing asset in India’s maritime defense doctrine. With its ability to tackle hypersonic anti-ship missiles at extended ranges, the system not only enhances survivability for naval fleets but also places India among a select group of nations capable of sea-based ASBM interception.

With trials and integration expected in the coming years, this indigenous solution promises to solidify India’s maritime security architecture amid a rapidly evolving threat landscape.