India has conducted a successful test of its first long-range hypersonic missile, capable of mid-flight manoeuvres and speeds exceeding five times the speed of sound, the Ministry of Defence announced. The missile, which is designed to penetrate advanced enemy missile defence systems, was launched from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha at 6:55 pm on Saturday.
The hypersonic missile, boasting a range of over 1,500 kilometres and capable of carrying various payloads, achieved a speed of Mach 6 during the test. Defence officials confirmed that it was tracked by a range of systems deployed across multiple domains. Data from down-range ship stations verified the missile’s successful terminal manoeuvres and its high-precision impact.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh hailed the test as a “historic moment” and a “stupendous achievement,” stating that it places India among a select group of nations with the capability to develop such advanced military technologies. Former DRDO chairman G Satheesh Reddy described the missile as a “gamechanger,” noting its potential applications across the Army, Navy, and Air Force. “A missile of this range with hypersonic velocities will provide a decisive edge to India,” Reddy added.
The missile combines the speed of a ballistic missile with the manoeuvring capabilities of a cruise missile. However, officials indicated that further testing and refinement would be necessary over the coming years before it becomes operational. The naval variant is expected to target enemy warships with pinpoint accuracy at extended ranges.
Hypersonic weapons have emerged as a critical area of focus for leading military powers, with their super-fast speeds, high manoeuvrability, and low-altitude flight paths making them highly effective against current missile and air defence systems. Two primary types dominate this technology: cruise missiles powered by scramjets throughout their flight and glide vehicles launched atop ballistic missiles before gliding at speeds exceeding Mach 5.
China and Russia currently lead in developing such weapons, often integrating nuclear warheads into their designs. Notably, China’s 2021 test of a nuclear-capable missile with a hypersonic glide vehicle caused significant international concern.
India’s journey in hypersonic technology began in 2019 with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) testing a hypersonic technology demonstrator vehicle (HSTDV). While the first test was unsuccessful, subsequent trials showed progress. In September 2020, the scramjet-powered HSTDV achieved speeds of Mach 6 for over 20 seconds after separation from a launch vehicle at an altitude of 30 kilometres. Further trials with longer durations are anticipated.
Separately, discussions were held about developing a hypersonic version of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, currently operational with a Mach 2.8 speed and a range of 450 kilometres. However, officials confirmed that such a project, while technically feasible, is not currently being pursued due to cost considerations.
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