The centrepiece of DRDO’s Republic Day display will be the Long Range Anti-Ship Hypersonic Missile (LR-AShM), showcased with its launcher during the parade. Designed to meet the coastal defence requirements of the Indian Navy, the missile represents a significant leap in India’s strike capabilities.
The LR-AShM is a hypersonic glide missile capable of engaging both static and moving targets with high precision. It is equipped with fully indigenous avionics and advanced sensor packages, making it a first-of-its-kind weapon system developed in the country.
Following a quasi-ballistic trajectory, the missile achieves hypersonic speeds of up to Mach 10 and sustains an average speed of Mach 5 through multiple atmospheric skips. Its low-altitude flight profile, combined with extreme manoeuvrability, enables it to evade enemy ground- and ship-based radar systems for most of its flight.
The missile uses a two-stage solid propulsion system. After the first stage separates, the second stage accelerates the vehicle to hypersonic velocity, following which it performs an unpowered glide before striking the target. Indigenous terminal-phase sensors ensure accurate engagement of moving naval assets.
DRDO Tableau at Bharat Parv 2026
In addition to the parade, DRDO’s tableau will be displayed at Bharat Parv at the Red Fort from January 26 to 31, 2026. The tableau’s theme, “Naval Technologies for Combat Submarines”, highlights critical indigenous systems that enhance the Indian Navy’s underwater combat capabilities.
The Integrated Combat Suite is a next-generation submarine-based defence system that provides unparalleled situational awareness. Developed through the combined efforts of eight DRDO laboratories and nearly 150 industry partners and MSMEs, the system enables real-time threat assessment, weapon selection, launch, and guidance.
The Wire Guided Heavy Weight Torpedo is a state-of-the-art submarine-launched weapon designed to counter modern ship and submarine threats. With high speed, endurance, and lethality, it forms the primary underwater weapon for India’s expanding submarine fleet operating in blue-water environments.
The Air Independent Propulsion system enhances submarine stealth by enabling long underwater endurance without surfacing. Powered by an indigenously developed phosphoric acid fuel cell and onboard hydrogen generator, the system allows submarines to operate silently and is modular for future platforms.
Other DRDO Systems on Display
Several other DRDO-developed systems will also be showcased by the Armed Forces contingents during the parade. These include the Arjun Main Battle Tank, Nag Missile System (NAMIS-II), Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System, BrahMos missile, Akash air defence system, Battlefield Surveillance Radar, and Anti-Tank Guided Missiles.
As India’s premier defence R&D agency, DRDO continues to partner with the armed forces, industry, academia, and MSMEs to develop advanced military technologies. The indigenous systems on display underscore India’s growing technological maturity and its commitment to self-reliance in defence.