NEWS – India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) recently achieved a major milestone by successfully flight-testing a long-range hypersonic missile on November 17, 2024, off the coast of Odisha. This accomplishment places India among the select nations with hypersonic capabilities, significantly enhancing its defense infrastructure.

HIGHLIGHTS

• The missile was tested at Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha, marking a historical achievement for India’s defense sector.
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh hailed the success, calling it a “historic moment” and an important step towards strengthening India’s military capabilities.
• The missile has a range of over 1,500 km and is capable of carrying various payloads for the armed forces.
• The missile system has been developed indigenously by DRDO’s laboratories, with contributions from the Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Missile Complex in Hyderabad, alongside various other DRDO labs and industry partners.

WHAT IS A HYPERSONIC MISSILE?

Definition of Hypersonic Speed

• A hypersonic missile travels at speeds greater than Mach 5 (five times the speed of sound), which equates to roughly one mile per second.
• Unlike traditional missiles, hypersonic missiles can maintain manoeuvrability during flight, which gives them a strategic advantage over conventional ballistic missiles that follow a fixed trajectory.

Types of Hypersonic Weapons

1. Hypersonic Glide Vehicles (HGV): These are launched from a rocket and then glide towards the target, utilizing high-speed atmospheric flight.
2. Hypersonic Cruise Missiles (HCM): Powered by air-breathing engines called scramjets, these missiles can cruise at hypersonic speeds after acquiring their target.

Advantages of Hypersonic Missiles

• Increased Strike Capabilities – Hypersonic missiles offer long-range strike options, which can target distant, defended, or time-sensitive threats. These capabilities are crucial when traditional forces are unavailable or when denied access.
• Difficult to Track – Due to their ability to fly at lower altitudes than ballistic missiles, hypersonic missiles are harder to track with conventional surface-based sensors and radars.
• Effective Against Various Targets – Hypersonic weapons primarily use kinetic energy (energy derived from motion) to destroy targets, including unhardened facilities and even underground structures.

Challenges and Disadvantages of Hypersonic Missiles

Engineering and Physics Challenges

• Developing hypersonic missiles involves overcoming significant challenges such as:
  • Heat generation from high-speed travel, which is a result of friction and air resistance.
  • The need for precise manoeuvrability at extremely high speeds to ensure accuracy.

Communication and Operational Issues

• Maintaining communication during flight is a complex issue. The missile system must stay connected to operators and decision-makers to ensure real-time updates and accurate guidance.

High Development Costs

• Hypersonic missile systems are costlier to develop compared to traditional ballistic missiles, making their production and deployment more expensive.

Global Race for Hypersonic Missile Development

Leading Nations

1. Russia and China: Both countries are currently ahead in the development of hypersonic missile technologies. Russia, in particular, has already used its hypersonic missile in combat situations. The Kinzhal missile was used to destroy a large underground warehouse in Ukraine in 2022.
2. United States: The US is actively developing a range of hypersonic weapons under a comprehensive program. In 2024, the US Army awarded Lockheed Martin a $756 million contract to enhance the nation’s Long Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW) system.
3. Other Countries: Nations such as France, Germany, Australia, Japan, Iran, and Israel are also pursuing hypersonic missile development projects, recognizing the strategic importance of these weapons.

India’s Position in the Global Hypersonic Landscape

With the successful test of its long-range hypersonic missile, India has now joined the ranks of countries with advanced hypersonic technology, demonstrating significant progress in its defense capabilities. The missile’s successful test is expected to bolster India’s position in global defense and security matters, especially in terms of deterrence and rapid-response capabilities.