SOURCE: AFI
India’s hypersonic missile program is a critical endeavor aimed at propelling the country into the realm of advanced weaponry. Hypersonic missiles travel at speeds exceeding Mach 5 (five times the speed of sound) and possess unique capabilities that challenge traditional defense systems.
India’s hypersonic journey is intertwined with the success of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, a joint venture between India’s DRDO (Defense Research and Development Organisation) and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyenia. The BrahMos-II, currently under development, leverages hypersonic scramjet technology, offering a significant leap in speed and range compared to its predecessor. This hypersonic BrahMos is expected to reach speeds of Mach 6 and strike targets over 1,500 kilometers away.
India has conducted crucial tests to develop indigenous hypersonic technology. The Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV) stands out as a major milestone. In 2020, the HSTDV successfully flew for approximately 23 seconds at Mach 6, powered by an indigenously developed scramjet engine. While earlier tests faced setbacks, the 2020 success signifies significant progress.
While India has made progress, there are hurdles to overcome. Some reports suggest that the BrahMos-II program has encountered setbacks, with the latest tests not being entirely successful. Additionally, miniaturizing the hypersonic technology for deployable missiles remains a challenge.
However, India is actively seeking solutions. There are reports that India has requested technology transfer from Russia for the 3M22 Zircon, which could expedite the BrahMos-II development. The successful HSTDV test also demonstrates India’s commitment to domestic hypersonic technology development.
India’s hypersonic missile program is still under development, and it seems its own deadline of 2025 to have a reliable system in place that has started its developmental testing is not going to happen anytime soon. But Hypersonic missiles, due their extreme speeds and maneuverability are seen as key to bypass current missile defense systems and its continues Developing this capability would be a major leap for India’s military deterrence and power projection.