In a landmark achievement that strengthens India’s strategic edge, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully completed dual trials of an indigenous submarine-launched cruise missile (SLCM), a technological breakthrough that marks a major leap in the country’s underwater deterrence capability.
The successful validations underscore India’s growing defence self-reliance under the Make in India initiative, giving the Navy a weapon that can hit both land-based and maritime targets with precision—without the submarine ever exposing itself.
A Quantum Leap for India’s Undersea Strike Power
According to defence sources, DRDO conducted two back-to-back trials from a submerged pontoon on the eastern coast to simulate real submarine launch conditions.
The missile demonstrated:
●Cold-launch capability – fired from beneath the surface
●Stealth trajectory with sea-skimming features
●Long-range precision strike ability
●Dual-target capability: land & water-based threats
This places India among the elite global powers—such as the US, Russia, France, and China—capable of deploying advanced submarine-launched cruise missile systems.
The indigenous SLCM is expected to integrate smoothly with future Indian submarines, including those under the ambitious Project-75 Alpha nuclear attack submarine (SSN) programme.
Strengthening India’s Second-Strike and Strategic Deterrence
The SLCM’s success significantly boosts India’s second-strike capability, a core element of the nation’s nuclear doctrine.
Once deployed, Indian submarines will be able to:
◆Stay hidden deep underwater
◆Strike high-value targets on land
◆Neutralize enemy warships & carrier groups
◆Maintain 24×7 deterrence in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR)
Experts say this technology is a “massive force multiplier” and pushes India closer to full-spectrum undersea dominance.
A Make in India Triumph: Indigenous Tech, Global Standards
The missile’s navigation, guidance, propulsion, and launch systems have all been developed in India—representing a huge step towards technological independence in strategic weaponry.
Defence analysts are calling it one of the biggest achievements of DRDO in recent years, marking:
●High-end R&D maturity
●Advanced engineering capabilities
●Leadership in indigenous defence innovation
India’s Strategic Posture Enters a New Era
With this successful validation, India is poised to enter a new era of naval warfare and strategic readiness.
The indigenous SLCM will eventually form the backbone of India’s underwater attack force, enhancing security across the Indian Ocean and beyond.
The breakthrough also aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s long-standing vision of a strong, self-reliant India—with DRDO at the forefront of cutting-edge defence research.
