The Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) of India has successfully developed the nation's most dangerous missile. Comparable to the deadly arsenals of America, Russia, and China, this missile's speed is so high that intercepting it becomes nearly impossible. It's a Hypersonic Cruise Missile (HCM), reaching velocities between 3,806 and 7,611 miles per hour.
DRDO has already tested the prototype in 2020 and 2023, with both tests proving successful. Let's discover how this weapon will significantly empower the Indian military.
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Below is a video of the missile prototype
The tests previously conducted were codenamed Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV). India has been working on hypersonic weapons for the past few years. The last HSTDV test lasted for less than 20 seconds.
China-PAK targets to be annihilated in seconds
At that time, the speed was approximately 4,660 miles per hour. The speed can be adjusted in the future. Firing traditional or nuclear warheads, an attack on Pakistan could be delivered in just seconds, effectively demolishing vital districts or military bases in both Pakistan and China within moments.
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Why was there a need for this missile?
The necessity for hypersonic missiles arose due to the advancements made by the United States. Though Russia has already surpassed the US in this field, boasting several hypersonic missiles, China possesses such weapons as well.
What are hypersonic weapons?
Hypersonic weapons travel at speeds over five times the speed of sound – that's over 3,836 miles per hour – making them incredibly difficult to track and intercept. Russia even deployed such a missile in its conflict with Ukraine.
Future weapons to become more formidable
As the stockpile of hypersonic weapons increases over time, their lethality will likewise grow. The US is developing a weapon that will launch like a ballistic missile but reach eight times the speed of sound before striking its target.
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Can any missile be made hypersonic?
Cruise and ballistic missiles already travel at high speeds, and their paths can be tracked and intercepted. However, if the speed exceeds 3,836 miles per hour, shooting them down becomes nearly impossible. Especially if they have the capability to change direction autonomously, tracking becomes a monumental challenge.
The various types of hypersonic weapons
There are two main types of hypersonic weapons: glide vehicles and cruise missiles. Many countries, including India, are focusing on hypersonic glide systems. Essentially, these glide vehicles are propelled by a missile to a certain altitude, after which they continue towards the target autonomously, adjusting their trajectory and speed. These weapons employ scramjet engines that use atmospheric oxygen to boost their speed significantly.
Which countries possess hypersonic missiles?
Currently, hypersonic missiles reside in the arsenals of the United States, Russia, and China. There have been rumors about North Korea's capabilities, though concrete evidence is lacking. India is also progressing in such weaponry, as are Australia and European nations. Russia possesses the world's most dangerous hypersonic weapon, the Avangard missile—an ICBM capable of reaching speeds of 15,345 miles per hour.
India is developing the BrahMos-2 hypersonic missile
India is in the process of creating the BrahMos-2 hypersonic missile, which will feature a scramjet engine for enhanced speed and glide capabilities. Its maximum range will be 373 miles, but it will fly at speeds of up to 5,328 miles per hour. It can be launched from ships, submarines, aircraft, or ground-based platforms.
