The Indigenous Technology Cruise Missile (ITCM), a new-generation long-range subsonic cruise missile created by DRDO in partnership with the Indian Navy, is set to undergo a critical test in India. ITCM is a significant step in extending India’s land-attack and marine strike capabilities beyond current weapons like the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, with the ability to strike targets up to 1,000 kilometers away.
With the help of an in-house radio-frequency seeker that guarantees efficient target tracking and engagement, ITCM is built to precisely strike both land and water targets. Its ground-hugging flight profiles and sophisticated navigation systems enable the missile to avoid being picked up by adversary radars. In order to ensure a smooth deployment from frontline warships, the missile also has contemporary avionics and guidance integration that are compatible with naval combat management systems.
Integrating ITCM with the Indian Navy’s shipborne radar and combat systems is a key component of the impending test. While the Navy switches from Russian UKSK launchers to more adaptable Universal Vertical Launch Modules (UVLMs), DRDO is creating a temporary Vertical Launch System (VLS) for warship-based launches. These UVLMs will increase fleet flexibility by allowing the deployment of several missile types, such as ITCM and BrahMos, from a single standardized launcher.
The ITCM is meant to supplement the BrahMos, not to replace it. While ITCM has a longer range at subsonic speeds, allowing for strategic penetration into deep enemy territory, BrahMos is a supersonic missile (around Mach 2.8–3.0) with a lesser range of about 300–450 km. When combined, they offer the Indian Navy a combination of long-range precise subsonic engagements and high-speed short-to-medium range strikes.
ITCM’s capability to cooperate with ship combat systems and successfully engage long-range targets at sea will be confirmed by the next ship-launched test, which is anticipated later this year. In addition to bolstering India’s drive for weapons self-reliance under Atmanirbhar Bharat, a successful demonstration would establish ITCM as a next-generation indigenous cruise missile and improve the Navy’s capacity to project power over the Indian Ocean and beyond.