RudraM-II: India’s First ALBM Taking Shape for Trial

Update: July 11, 2021
RudraM-II: India’s First ALBM Taking Shape for Trial

India’s DRDO for the first time had partially shown RudraM-II ALBM when M Venkaiah Naidu, Vice President of India, visited DRDO’s Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Missile Complex in Hyderabad. RudraM-II is India’s first Air-launched ballistic missile or ALBM that is now taking shape to begin its developmental trials as per the information that is coming in after it completed its captive flight and release flight trials from Sukhoi-30MKI fighter aircraft successfully.

RudraM-II ALBM has a range of 350km that can travel at Mach 4 speeds with a 200kg warhead towards the ground or sea-based target. RudraM-II has been seen weapons package of upcoming Tejas Mk2 and TEDBF fighter programs, but some reports suggest that RudraM-IIA is a spinoff of RudraM-II which is under development for the Indian Navy with additional sea-skimming features and enhanced sensors to locate moving targets in the sea.

DRDO is also working on the development of RudraM-III ALBM that will be twice the weight of the RudraM-II and will have a range above 600km.