India’s first long-range hypersonic missile
New Delhi: India’s first long-range hypersonic missile was successfully flight tested by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha late on November 16, 2024.
This hypersonic missile is designed to carry various payloads for ranges greater than 1,500 km for the Armed Forces.
The missile was tracked by various range systems, deployed in multiple domains. The flight data obtained from down-range ship stations confirmed the successful terminal manoeuvres and impact with a high degree of accuracy.
This missile has been indigenously developed by the laboratories of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Missile Complex, Hyderabad, along with various other Defence Research and Development Organisation laboratories and Industry Partners. The flight trial was carried out in the presence of senior scientists of the DRDO, and officers of the Armed Forces.
The successful flight test puts India puts it in a small group of nations possessing this advanced technology. The term “Hypersonic” refers to a speed at least five times the speed of sound, which is also called Mach-5. According to the Atlantic Council, only the United States, China, and Russia have demonstrated hypersonic capabilities. North Korea and the Houthis in Yemen have also claimed to have test-fired such missiles.
In a post on X, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh described the flight trial as a historic achievement which has put India in the group of select nations having capabilities of such critical and advanced military technologies. He congratulated the Defence Research and Development Organisation, the Armed Forces and the Industry for the successful flight trial.
Dr Samir V Kamat, Secretary of the Department of Defence Research and Development (R&D), and Chairman of the Defence Research and Development Organisation, congratulated the team of DRDO which has actively contributed to this successful mission.
– global bihari bureau
