Emerging Technology & Security — 2026-05-02

India Conducts Phase-II Test of Long-Range Anti-Ship Hypersonic Missile Off Odisha Coast

India flight-tested the Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LR-AShM) from a shore-based facility off the Odisha coast on May 1, with defense sources telling CNN-News18 the hypersonic glide vehicle struck a designated target at 1,500 kilometers. The two-stage solid-propellant system reportedly reaches Mach 10 at boost before sustaining approximately Mach 5 through an unpowered glide phase, according to Republic World and The Defense News. A pre-issued NOTAM established a restricted maritime and airspace zone of approximately 1,680 kilometers over the Bay of Bengal for May 1 through 3. As of May 2, DRDO, the Ministry of Defence, and the Press Information Bureau had released no official statement; the BJP acknowledged the test in a social media post.

Analysis
The pre-issued NOTAM establishing a 1,680-kilometer restricted zone over the Bay of Bengal confirms the test occurred regardless of official silence. Per Indian defense outlets drawing on unnamed sources, without independent international corroboration, the system sustains Mach 5 to 1,500 kilometers, sufficient to threaten Chinese carrier strike groups across the northern Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal littoral. Government acknowledgment delegated to a ruling-party social media post points to deliberate announcement management, though the silence may instead reflect partial test success rather than the full-range strike the reporting claims. India is likely to conduct at least one additional hypersonic test before December 2026.

4 sources

India Successfully Conducts Phase-II Test of Long-Range Anti-Ship Hypersonic Missile Off Odisha Coast - The Defense News
India Successfully Tests Phase-II Long-Range Hypersonic Anti-Ship Missile - Indian Defence News
1,500km Range, Mach 10 Speed: India's Latest Anti Ship Missile Hits 'Perfect Score' in Phase-II Trials - Republic World
India tests Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LR-AShM), Remains Mum as no official announcement comes - Indian Defence Research Wing (IDRW)