Pakistan Navy Test-Fires Ship-Launched Anti-Vessel Missile; Where Does It Stands Against India's LR-AShM Weapan

Pakistan's Anti-Ship Missile: Pakistan test-fired a locally developed ship-launched anti-ship missile. In a statement on Thursday, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the Pakistan Navy has successfully test-fired a locally developed ship-launched anti-ship missile, which can engage targets at an extended range. Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf, along with leading scientists and engineers, witnessed the missile firing.

The ISPR stated the missile integrates a cutting-edge guidance system and advanced manoeuvrability, enabling it to "evade threats, adapt to dynamic conditions, and deliver with precision and lethality".

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"Pakistan Navy successfully conducted a live weapon firing of an indigenously developed ship-launched anti-ship missile, accurately engaging its target with high speed at extended range," it said. The successful launch of the locally developed missile underscores the "fusion of technological excellence and operational expertise, the Pakistan military said.

India's Indigenous LR-AShM Hypersonic Glide Missile

India does have a ship-launched anti-ship missile, LR-AShM Hypersonic Glide Missile. The LR-AShM system is designed to meet the coastal battery requirements of the Indian Navy. The LR-AShM is a Hypersonic Glide Missile capable of engaging static and moving targets and is designed to carry various payloads. The missile is a first-of-its-kind with indigenous avionics systems and high accuracy sensor packages.

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This hypersonic missile follows a quasi-ballistic trajectory with hypersonic speeds starting at Mach 10 and maintaining average Mach 5.0 with multiple skips. Indigenously developed sensors are provided for engaging the moving targets in the terminal phase. As this missile flies in low altitude with high speed and manoeuvrability, enemy ground and ship based radars cannot detect this missile during most of its trajectory.

The LR-AShM is configured with a two stage solid propulsion rocket motor system. These propulsion systems boost the missile to the required hypersonic velocities.

(With PTI inputs)