Delhi, Jan 22: The Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) will showcase some of its path-breaking innovations for national security during the 77th Republic Day Parade at Kartavya Path and Bharat Parv 2026.
The systems are, Long Range Anti-Ship Hypersonic Missile (LR-AShM) and DRDO Tableau-‘Naval Technologies for Combat Submarines’.
LR-AshM at Kartavya Path.
The DRDO will showcase LR-AShM with launcher during the parade. This weapon 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.
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. Stage-1 of the vehicle is separated after it is spent. After Stage-II burnout, the vehicle performs an unpowered glide with required manoeuvres in the atmosphere before engaging the tar
This year, the DRDO tableau will be showcased at Bharat Parv at Red Fort from January 26 to 31, 2026. The theme of the tableau is ‘Naval Technologies for Combat Submarines’, which will display the indigenously developed technologies/systems which act as a force multiplier for conventional submarines of the Indian Navy. These systems are Integrated Combat Suite (ICS), Wire Guided Heavy Weight Torpedo (WGHWT) & Air Independent Propulsion which will ensure combat supremacy in the underwater domain.
The ICS is the new generation submarine-based defence system vital for underwater warfare and anti-submarine operations. It is a system of systems that gives unparalleled situational awareness by providing the threat picture to make tactical decisions and actions like weapon selection, launch and guidance. The ICS is a collaborative effort from eight DRDO laboratories with active involvement of about 150 major industry partners and MSMEs across India.
The WGHWT is a state-of-the-art submarine-launched torpedo to counter contemporary ship & submarine threats in oceanic waters. It is considered to be a lethal weapon in the scenario of anti-submarine warfare and is the primary weapon of all submarines. The Indian Navy is continuously expanding its submarine fleet in order to maintain dominance in blue water naval warfare and strategic advantage in a vast stretch of ocean around the country. To achieve this, it needs indigenously developed submarine launched anti-ship, anti-submarine heavyweight torpedo with high speed and endurance.
The AIP is for long underwater endurance of submarines, thus enhancing the stealth. It is powered by locally developed phosphoric acid fuel cell with a novel onboard hydrogen generator. The AIP system generates power using the phosphoric acid fuel cells by feeding hydrogen and oxygen. The fuel cell generated power, after conditioning is fed top the submarine power line and the submarine propels underwater silently, without making any noise. The technology so developed is modular in nature and will be possible to configure for futuristic submarines as well.
Many more DRDO developed systems will also be displayed in Armed Forces contingents during the parade at Kartavya Path. These include Arjun Main Battle Tank, Nag Missile System (NAMIS-II), Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System, BrahMos Missile, Akash, Battle Field Surveillance Radar and Anti Tank Guided Missile.
The DRDO has been a design and development agency for the Armed Forces and to reinforce the spirit of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and is partnering with all stakeholders of defence ecosystem, including academia, industry and services in developing state of the art defence systems. Indigenous development of these systems by DRDO is a major achievement towards self-reliance in defence technologies and an important step forward towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
