India Tests Long Range Land Attack Cruise Missile

India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully flight-tested the indigenously developed Long Range Land Attack Cruise Missile (LRLACM) on 15 June 2026 from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast. The missile is designed as a long-range precision-strike weapon for the Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force.

Long-Range Cruise Missile Class

A cruise missile is a guided missile that sustains powered flight and follows a pre-programmed route to a target. Land-attack cruise missiles are designed to strike targets on land, and the LRLACM is described as a Tomahawk-class system in the same broad category.

Test Features and Mission Objectives

The flight test validated propulsion, guidance, navigation and control, and warhead delivery. The missile met all mission objectives during the test, and the launch was carried out from a test range on India’s eastern seaboard.

Range, Development and Users

The LRLACM has an estimated range of 1,000 to 1,500 km. It has been developed entirely in India, with subsystems built by multiple DRDO laboratories and the Aeronautical Development Establishment in Bengaluru serving as the nodal laboratory. The missile draws on technologies matured under the Nirbhay programme. Indian industry partners also participated in the development of the system.

Important Facts for Exams

• Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Island is a missile testing facility off the coast of Odisha.
• DRDO is India’s premier defence research organisation under the Ministry of Defence.
• A cruise missile can fly at low altitude and follow a guided trajectory to its target.
• The term Aatmanirbhar Bharat is used for India’s self-reliance initiative in strategic sectors.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the DRDO team and industry partners after the test. The LRLACM is intended to provide a long-range land-attack capability for the three Indian armed services.