DRDO test-fires ‘Indigenous Technology Cruise Missile'

The ITCM (pictured above from its test on 18 April) is a technology demonstrator programme to validate the capability of small turbofan engines. (Indian Ministry of Defence)

India's state-owned Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) test-fired its ‘Indigenous Technology Cruise Missile (ITCM)' from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur off the northeastern coast of Odisha, the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) said in a press release on 18 April.

“During the test, all subsystems performed as per expectation and the missile performance was monitored by several range sensors like radar, electro optical tracking system (EOTS), and telemetry deployed by [the] ITR at different locations to ensure complete coverage of the flightpath,” the MoD said.

The flight of the missile was also monitored from the Su-30-MKI aircraft of the Indian Air Force, the MoD added.

The missile followed the desired path using “waypoint navigation and demonstrated very-low-altitude sea-skimming flight”, according to the MoD.

“This successful flight test has also established the reliable performance of the indigenous propulsion system developed by the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), Bengaluru,” the MoD said.

The missile was developed by Bangalore-based DRDO laboratory Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) in collaboration with other laboratories and Indian industries.

The ITCM is a technology demonstrator programme to validate the capability of GTRE's small turbofan engines (STFEs) – also known as Manik engines – upgraded radio frequency (RF) seekers, and other subsystems.

The success of the ITCM programme will pave the way for the development of the Long-Range Land Attack Cruise Missile (LRLACM). The DRDO aims to develop the LRLACM by the end of 2024, following which it will be tested until 2027–28.