Turkish media has expressed growing concern over reports that India may offer its indigenously developed Long Range Land Attack Cruise Missile (LR-LACM) to Greece, a European country facing the threat of potential invasion by Turkey. Turkish media outlet TR Haber has reported that India has extended an offer to supply the missile, which has been developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). However, both Indian and Greek authorities have refrained from making any official statements on the matter. Media report that this silence points to ongoing unofficial discussions behind the scenes.
The LR-LACM, developed by DRDO, boasts a strike range of 1,500 kilometres. Its first successful test was conducted in November 2024. This subsonic missile has been developed as an advanced derivative of DRDO’s earlier Nirbhay missile project.
The missile is powered by a turbofan engine named Manik, also developed indigenously by DRDO. Designed for quick launch and terrain-hugging flight, the missile can evade radar detection despite its subsonic speed, thanks to its unique flight trajectory. The LR-LACM was showcased at the DEEFA-25 defence exhibition held in Athens, signalling India’s interest in offering the missile to friendly nations, particularly in Europe.
India and Greece currently enjoy growing defence cooperation, marked by joint military exercises and high-level diplomatic and military exchanges. It is within this evolving bilateral context that speculation around the missile deal has gained traction. While the deal reports, Turkey is the most alarmed, especially amid its ongoing disputes with Greece over maritime borders and the situation in Cyprus. With the LR-LACM’s capability to carry both conventional and nuclear warheads, Greece would gain the ability to target strategic locations within Turkish territory, including airbases.
The LR-LACM is primarily designed for precision strikes against strategic military infrastructure such as radar systems, air defence installations, and military bases. DRDO is also working on customised versions of the missile for the Indian Army and Navy. A naval variant with a range of 1,000 km is currently in deployment across 30 Indian warships.
At the DEEFA-25 exhibition, the Indian missile drew significant attention from Greek officials, eclipsing even the American Tomahawk and Russian Kalibr missiles. India also expressed willingness to co-develop the missile with its allies, further boosting its appeal.
The possibility of such a missile deal between India and Greece have already rattled Ankara and could reshape the military balance in the Eastern Mediterranean.
