New Delhi, Jan 22 (NationPress) The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is set to highlight its advancements in Naval technologies, including a groundbreaking hypersonic missile, during the 77th Republic Day Parade at Kartavya Path and Bharat Parv 2026, as confirmed by an official on Thursday.

The tableau's theme is ‘Naval Technologies for Combat Submarines’, according to a Defence Ministry representative.

This display will emphasize indigenously developed technologies that enhance the capabilities of the Indian Navy's conventional submarines. Key systems featured will include the Integrated Combat Suite (ICS), Wire Guided Heavy Weight Torpedo (WGHWT), and Air Independent Propulsion (AIP), all designed to secure dominance in underwater operations.

Among the highlights will be the LR-AShM showcased with its launcher. This hypersonic glide missile is tailored to fulfill the coastal battery requirements of the Indian Navy, capable of targeting both stationary and mobile objectives and designed for various payloads, as stated.

Notably, this missile is unique with its indigenous avionics systems and high-precision sensor packages.

The missile follows a quasi-ballistic trajectory, achieving hypersonic speeds that commence at Mach 10 and average Mach 5.0 with several skips. It is equipped with indigenously developed sensors that enable targeting during its terminal phase.

Due to its low-altitude flight, high speed, and maneuverability, enemy radar systems on the ground and at sea are often unable to detect the missile throughout most of its trajectory, the Ministry noted.

Configured with a two-stage solid propulsion rocket motor, the LR-AShM achieves the necessary hypersonic speeds as Stage-1 is discarded after use. Following Stage-II's burnout, the vehicle glides unpowered while maneuvering before it engages its target.

This year, the DRDO tableau will be featured at Bharat Parv at Red Fort from January 26 to 31, 2026.

The ICS is the latest submarine-based defense system crucial for underwater combat and anti-submarine missions. This system integrates various components to provide unmatched situational awareness, facilitating tactical decisions regarding weapon selection, launch, and guidance.

The ICS results from collaboration among eight DRDO laboratories, with active participation from around 150 major industry partners and MSMEs across India.

The WGHWT represents a state-of-the-art submarine-launched torpedo aimed at addressing modern threats from ships and submarines in oceanic regions.

The AIP enhances the underwater endurance of submarines, significantly improving stealth capabilities. It operates on a locally developed phosphoric acid fuel cell system paired with an innovative onboard hydrogen generator.

This AIP system generates power through the phosphoric acid fuel cells by utilizing hydrogen and oxygen, as outlined in the statement.