SOURCE: AFI
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) of India has recently unveiled its expansive plans to bolster the nation’s defense capabilities through the development of 12 distinct hypersonic missile systems. This ambitious program encompasses a range of technologies, including Hypersonic Glide Vehicles (HGVs), anti-hypersonic missile systems, and hypersonic cruise missiles, positioning India as a formidable contender in the global race for advanced missile technology.
As nations like the United States, Russia, and China accelerate their own hypersonic programs, India’s multi-pronged approach aims to ensure strategic deterrence and operational superiority across diverse combat scenarios.
Hypersonic weapons, defined as systems capable of traveling at speeds exceeding Mach 5 (five times the speed of sound), represent the next frontier in military technology. Their key advantages—extreme speed, unpredictable flight paths, and the ability to evade conventional missile defense systems—make them a game-changer in modern warfare. Unlike traditional ballistic missiles, which follow a predictable parabolic trajectory, hypersonic missiles can maneuver mid-flight, rendering interception by existing air defense systems exceedingly difficult. This capability is particularly critical in an era where adversaries are deploying advanced missile shields, such as the U.S. Patriot system or Russia’s S-400.
For India, the development of hypersonic technology is not merely a technological pursuit but a strategic imperative. With regional tensions involving neighbors like China and Pakistan, and the broader geopolitical dynamics involving major powers, India seeks to ensure its military can penetrate enemy defenses and deliver precision strikes with minimal warning time. Moreover, the ability to counter hypersonic threats through anti-hypersonic systems is equally vital, given the proliferation of such technologies in the region.
DRDO’s revelation of working on 12 different hypersonic missile variants underscores a comprehensive strategy to address various operational needs across land, air, and sea domains. While specific details about each project remain classified, the broad categories of systems under development provide insight into India’s hypersonic ambitions. These include:
1. Hypersonic Glide Vehicles (HGVs)
HGVs are launched into the upper atmosphere by a booster rocket, after which they glide toward their target at hypersonic speeds while performing evasive maneuvers. DRDO’s efforts in this domain build on its earlier successes with the Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV), which demonstrated scramjet propulsion technology in 2020. The HSTDV, though primarily a technology demonstrator, laid the groundwork for operational HGVs capable of carrying conventional or nuclear warheads over long distances.
A notable example of DRDO’s progress is the reported development of a long-range HGV, potentially akin to the recently tested Long-Range Hypersonic Missile (LRHM), which boasts a range exceeding 1,500 km and speeds of Mach 8. Such systems could target high-value assets deep within enemy territory, including command centers, airfields, or naval formations, with minimal risk of interception.
2. Anti-Hypersonic Missile Systems
As hypersonic weapons proliferate globally, the need for defensive systems capable of intercepting them has become paramount. DRDO’s anti-hypersonic missile program aims to develop interceptors that can detect, track, and neutralize incoming hypersonic threats during their boost, mid-course, or terminal phases. This is a daunting challenge, as hypersonic missiles travel at speeds that drastically reduce reaction times for defense systems.
DRDO is reportedly leveraging advancements in radar technology, such as the indigenous Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radars, and integrating them with high-speed interceptors. The organization may also explore directed energy weapons (DEWs), like laser-based systems, to complement kinetic interceptors. The goal is to create a multi-layered defense system capable of protecting critical infrastructure and military assets from hypersonic attacks.
3. Hypersonic Cruise Missiles
Unlike HGVs, hypersonic cruise missiles are powered throughout their flight by air-breathing engines, typically scramjets (supersonic combustion ramjets). DRDO’s work in this area builds on its successful ground tests of scramjet technology, with recent trials demonstrating sustained combustion for over 120 seconds—a critical milestone for operational hypersonic cruise missiles. These missiles offer sustained hypersonic speeds and the ability to fly at low altitudes, making them ideal for penetrating heavily defended airspace.
One potential candidate in this category could be an advanced variant of the BrahMos missile, developed in collaboration with Russia. The BrahMos-II, which has been under development for several years, aims to achieve hypersonic speeds (Mach 7-8) and a range exceeding 1,500 km. Such a system would enhance the Indian Navy’s anti-ship capabilities and provide a potent strike option against land-based targets.
Other Variants
While the specifics of the remaining nine hypersonic variants remain undisclosed, they likely include a mix of air-launched, sea-launched, and ground-launched systems tailored for different branches of the Indian armed forces. Potential projects could involve hypersonic anti-ship missiles, air-to-surface weapons for fighter jets like the Su-30 MKI, and even submarine-launched hypersonic missiles to bolster India’s underwater deterrence capabilities. Additionally, DRDO may be exploring hypersonic drones or decoys to confuse enemy defenses, further expanding the scope of its hypersonic arsenal.
Developing hypersonic weapons is no easy feat, requiring breakthroughs in materials science, propulsion, guidance systems, and thermal management. DRDO has made significant strides in these areas, as evidenced by its recent achievements:
- Scramjet Propulsion: The successful ground test of an active-cooled scramjet combustor in early 2025 demonstrated India’s ability to sustain supersonic combustion, a cornerstone of hypersonic cruise missile technology. The development of endothermic fuels and advanced thermal barrier coatings ensures that these engines can withstand the extreme temperatures generated at hypersonic speeds.
- Materials Science: Hypersonic vehicles face intense aerodynamic heating during flight, necessitating materials capable of withstanding temperatures exceeding 2,000°C. DRDO’s advancements in ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) and carbon-fiber-based materials are critical to ensuring structural integrity under such conditions.
- Guidance and Navigation: Hypersonic missiles require precise navigation to hit their targets despite their high speeds and mid-flight maneuvers. DRDO is integrating indigenous navigation systems like NavIC (India’s regional satellite navigation system) with inertial navigation systems (INS) to reduce dependency on foreign GPS networks, a lesson learned from past incidents like the 2009 BrahMos test failure.
- Testing Infrastructure: The establishment of the Hypersonic Wind Tunnel (HWT) in Hyderabad, capable of simulating Mach 5 to 12 speeds, has provided DRDO with a critical facility to test hypersonic systems under realistic conditions.
Despite these advancements, challenges remain. Scaling up scramjet technology for operational missiles, ensuring reliable guidance at extreme speeds, and achieving cost-effectiveness in production are hurdles that DRDO must overcome. Moreover, the development of anti-hypersonic systems requires cutting-edge sensors and interceptors, areas where India still lags behind global leaders like the U.S. and Russia.
The timeline for deploying these 12 hypersonic variants remains uncertain, but DRDO’s track record with projects like the BrahMos and HSTDV suggests that operational systems could emerge within the next 5-10 years, provided funding and political support remain consistent. International collaboration, particularly with partners like Russia, could also accelerate development in areas where India faces technological gaps.
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