You dont have javascript enabled! Please enable it! DRDO'S Dhvani Hypersonic Glide Vehicle Set for Induction by 2029-30 - Indian Defence Research Wing
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SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has made a significant stride in advanced weaponry with the unveiling of a full-scale model of the Dhvani Hypersonic Glide Vehicle (HGV) during the ‘Vigyan Vaibhav’ exhibition at Hyderabad’s Gachibowli Stadium in February 2025. This cutting-edge vehicle, approximately 9 meters long and 2.5 meters wide, showcases India’s growing prowess in hypersonic technology.

DRDO has confirmed that the Dhvani HGV is on track for its debut and will be fully developed and ready for induction into the Indian armed forces by 2029-30. The vehicle features a blended wing-body design with a sleek, wedge-shaped structure, optimized for low drag and high-speed performance. Its heat protection system (HPS), utilizing ultra-high-temperature ceramic composites, is designed to withstand temperatures of 2,000-3,000°C caused by atmospheric friction during reentry.

According to sources cited by idrw.org, the Dhvani HGV is expected to have an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM)-class range, although DRDO has not officially disclosed its exact specifications. This places it potentially in the league of Russia’s Avangard or China’s DF-ZF — highly maneuverable hypersonic glide vehicles with nuclear delivery capability.

Notably, the Dhvani HGV is being designed for unpowered reentry, relying on aerodynamic lift at altitudes around 60 kilometers to maneuver and evade enemy missile defense systems. This ability to dynamically alter its flight path post-boost phase presents a formidable challenge to existing missile tracking and interception technologies.

Dhvani is part of India’s broader push into hypersonic weapons development, which includes past tests of the Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV). The unveiling of the Dhvani model demonstrates that India is rapidly transitioning from experimental platforms to weaponized hypersonic systems, capable of strategic deployment.

features:

  • Ultra-High-Temperature Ceramic Composite (UHTCC) Heat Protection System (HPS), capable of withstanding temperatures between 2,000°C to 3,000°C generated from atmospheric reentry.
  • Low Radar Cross Section (RCS) due to stealth-optimized geometry, including angled surfaces and smooth contours to reduce radar detectability.
  • Lift-to-drag ratio optimization, allowing it to glide efficiently at hypersonic speeds while reducing shockwave stress on the airframe.
  • Flight control surfaces and fins, which may house reaction control systems (RCS) and stability augmentation mechanisms for precise in-flight trajectory adjustments.

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