Seeking to enhance its long-range strike capability, the Indian Navy has issued an RFI (Request for Information) for Land Attack Cruise Missiles (LACMs) for conventional submarines.
The Navy, in the RFI, said the intended use of LACMs is to increase its long-range strike capability against targets, with a high probability of kill in a single shot, and provide the conventional submarines of the force with advanced technology in missile warfare.
The Navy is looking for a supersonic or subsonic missile that has a maximum range of 500 km and a minimum of 50 km, and can be launched from a submarine weapon tube of 533 mm diameter at guiderails. The overall weight, inclusive of the capsule, should be less than 1,500 kg, and it should not be longer than 6.4 metres.
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The area of operations of the missile covers all ocean areas. According to the RFI, the missile should be capable of launching from platform speeds up to 06 knots for normal operations and up to 08 knots for emergency ejection. It should "facilitate firing in salvo of two missiles without mutual interference between the missile homing heads."
The RFI sought a missile that should withstand submarine roll and localised heating during loading.
Target selection of the LACM should be based on the target’s geographic coordinates. The target must be defined by the submarine’s onboard command and weapon control system, or by an appropriate shore-based facility, using those coordinates. The system should be capable of operating effectively in a dense electronic warfare environment.
It demands a Single Shot Kill Probability (SSKP) of not less than (NLT) 0.90, alongside a Probability of Hit NLT 0.90 and reliability NLT 0.99. Besides, the missile should be insensitive to high explosives.
The net explosive content should be commensurate with the overall weight and range of the missile, and it should have the capability to self-destruct on deviation from trajectory or on operator command.
The missile should be compatible with user-defined command and control systems and the integrated combat system.