SOURCE: IDRW.ORG
In a striking display of India’s advancing defence capabilities, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) showcased a full-scale model of the Hypersonic Glide Vehicle (HGV) under Project Dhvani at the ‘Vigyan Vaibhav’ defence exhibition held at Gachibowli Stadium, Hyderabad, from February 28 to March 2, 2025. This unveiling, inaugurated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, marks a significant milestone in India’s pursuit of cutting-edge hypersonic technology, positioning the nation among global leaders in this domain. Project Dhvani, with its innovative wave-rider design, promises to redefine efficiency and performance at hypersonic speeds, offering a glimpse into the future of India’s military arsenal.
Project Dhvani represents DRDO’s ambitious foray into developing Hypersonic Glide Vehicles capable of traveling at speeds exceeding Mach 5—approximately 6,200 km/h—while evading modern air defence systems. The full-scale model displayed at Gachibowli Stadium embodies the wave-rider configuration, a design that leverages the vehicle’s own shockwaves to minimize aerodynamic drag and enhance lift, ensuring superior performance in the hypersonic regime. This approach, rooted in advanced aerodynamics, allows the HGV to “ride” its shockwaves, reducing energy loss and enabling sustained high-speed flight.
The wave-rider configuration at the heart of Project Dhvani is a testament to DRDO’s engineering ingenuity. Unlike traditional ballistic missiles with predictable trajectories, HGVs like Dhvani glide through the atmosphere at low altitudes, making them difficult to detect and intercept. The design maximizes the lift-to-drag (L:D) ratio—reportedly exceeding 5, according to X posts—allowing the vehicle to glide farther while carrying heavier payloads. This capability is critical for delivering both conventional and nuclear warheads over long distances with pinpoint accuracy.
DRDO’s focus on multiple HGV configurations under Project Dhvani, including conical, winged, and blended-body designs, reflects a strategic approach to tailoring the system for diverse operational needs.
NOTE : Article cannot be reproduced without written permission of idrw.org in any form even for YouTube Videos to avoid Copy right strikes. Websites doing illegal reproductions will get DMCA and Legal Notices.