India stands at the threshold of creating a new history in the defense sector. The Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) is soon preparing to launch indigenous hypersonic missiles, which will be one of the world’s fastest and deadly missiles. The speed of this missile will be Mac 5 (about 6120 km/h). This will provide India a new height as a global military power. Dr. Sudhir Kumar Mishra, senior scientist of DRDO and former CEO of BrahMos Aerospace, has recently confirmed this. According to him, the hypersonic engine was successfully tested a few weeks ago. Soon it will be brought in front of everyone.
What is hypersonic missile?
Hypersonic missiles are weapons that can fly five times or even more faster than the speed of sound. Their speed can range from Mac 5 to Mac 25 (6,120 km/h to 24,140 km/h). These missiles are almost invincible for existing air defense systems due to its extraordinary speed, the ability to change direction in the middle of the flight and the characteristics of flying at low height.
There are two types of hypersonic missiles …
Hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV): They are projected by rockets in the upper atmosphere, from where they move towards their target and attack fast. These missiles can change direction during flight, making them difficult to detect. Hypersonic cruise missiles: These scrambles are powered by engine (supersonic combustion ramjet), which combines air with fuel at high speed to generate combustion. These missiles fly at low altitude. Can attack the target with extreme accuracy. DRDO’s new missile, developing under the BrahMos-II program, will be a hypersonic cruise missile operated by a indigenous scramble engine.
Recent achievement of DRDO
On 16 May 2025, Dr. Sudhir Kumar Mishra revealed in a media institute program that DRDO recently successfully tested a hypersonic engine. The ground testing of this engine took place on 25 April 2025 in the Scramjet Connect Test Facility in Hyderabad, where the scramjet engine continued continuously for 1,000 seconds (more than 16 minutes). It is the world’s longest scumjet test, which makes India equal to countries such as America, Russia and China in hypersonic technology.
Dr. Mishra said that two-three weeks ago we tested the hypersonic engine. Soon we will launch such hypersonic missile, which will speed up to Mac 5. All technologies for BrahMos have been developed indigenously by DRDO, even we have created the world’s largest launcher.
The missile has been developed by Hyderabad -based DRDO. APJ Abdul Kalam is being done in collaboration with the missile complex and other laboratories as well as private sector companies. The missile will be able to carry a variety of payloads with a range of more than 1,500 kilometers, making it a versatile weapon for the Indian armed forces.
technical features
The DRDO’s hypersonic missile system includes many advanced technologies … indigenous scramble engine: This engine is designed to maintain hypersonic speed. It features advanced thermal management, stability and combustion stability (propulsion control). The engine uses ceramic thermal barrier coatings (TBC), which can tolerate extremely high temperatures. Endothermic fuel: DRDO has developed an indigenous fuel in association with private industry partners, which helps to keep the engine cool and enhances ignition. This increases the efficiency and performance of the fuel missile.
High speed and dynamics: This missile has the ability to change the direction in the flying of Mac 5, with which it is almost impossible to stop it. It can fly at low altitude, making it even more difficult to detect radar. Long distance: The distance of more than 1,500 kilometers enables this missile to penetrate both strategic and strategic goals. It can carry both traditional and nuclear weapons. Indigenous Technology: All major technologies used in this missile, such as launchers, engines and navigation systems, have been developed indigenously by DRDO.
Strategic importance
The development of hypersonic missiles will prove to be a major transformative in India’s defense capabilities. Its major benefits are … Marak capacity: High speed and dynamics of this missile make it the first choice to destroy the enemy’s strategic and nuclear goals. It provides the Indian armed forces the ability to carry out quick and accurate attacks. The ability to penetrate air defense systems: Its unexpected flight path and ability to fly at low altitude make it almost invincible to existing missile defense systems. It is particularly effective against countries that depend on advanced defense systems. Regional Power Balance: India’s move can change the military power balance in South Asia. The missile gives India a strong strategic position against neighbors like China and Pakistan. Global Reliability: With this achievement, India has joined selected countries (Russia, China, America) that has hypersonic technology. It shows India’s technical and military capabilities on the global platform.
Impact on China and Pakistan
The development of hypersonic missiles by India is a major strategic setback for China and Pakistan.
China
Technical challenge: China has hypersonic missiles like DF-ZEDF and Star Sky-2, but India’s indigenous scramble engine and 1,000 second test challenges the world records of the world. This Indian missile can target Chinese military bases located near areas such as Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh.
Regional Impact: India’s growing military power and deployment of hypersonic missiles can curb China’s aggression in the Indo-Pacific region. This missile can also pose a threat to Chinese naval vessels and coastal bases.
Strategic concern: India’s move may force China to advance its missile defense systems and invest more in hypersonic technology. This may speed up the regional missile race.
Pakistan
Military imbalance: Pakistan does not yet have indigenous hypersonic missile programs. The Pakistan Air Force has recently described the Chinese-made CM-400AKG missile as hypersonic, but its credibility has been questioned. India’s hypersonic missiles can easily penetrate Pakistan’s air defense systems.
Strategic pressure: This missile can carry out quick and accurate attacks on Pakistan’s major military bases such as Karachi, Rawalpindi and Islamabad. This will affect Pakistan’s strategic depth. Advertisement
Dependence on China: India’s progress may force Pakistan to become more dependent on Chinese technology to protect itself, which will reduce its autonomy.
BrahMos-II and other projects
This hypersonic missile by DRDO is part of the BrahMos-II program, which is being developed by the joint venture of India and Russia BrahMos Aerospace. The world’s fastest supersonic cruise missile (Mac 3.5, Range 650 km) has already proved its credibility. BrahMos-II will improve it further, its speed will be 7-8 Mac and the firepower will be 1,500 km. The missile is inspired by Russia’s 3M22 Zircon missile. But it will use DRDO’s indigenous scumjet engine, which will reduce India’s dependence on Russia.
Other DRDO’s other hypersonic projects include …
Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV): It is a unmanned scramble -operated aircraft, which will be used as a carrier to launch hypersonic missiles and low -cost satellites. It was successfully tested in 2020, with a speed of Mac 6 in 23 seconds. Shaurya missile: It is a medium -range surface -to -surface ballistic missile that is capable of carrying a Mac 7.5 speed and a range of 1,900 km capable of carrying atoms and traditional weapons. It joined the Strategic Force Command in 2020.
future plan
In the future, DRDO plans to develop BrahMos-II up to Mac 8 and to develop a more distance. In addition, HSTDV will also be used for civil uses, such as cheap satellite projections. DRDO’s hypersonic missile is a revolutionary step in India’s defense and technical capabilities.
It not only establishes India as a global military power, but also affects the regional power balance. This missile is a strategic challenge for China and Pakistan, which may force them to rethink their military strategies and defense systems.
This step of India strengthens self -reliant India and Make in India initiative. This shows that India is now leading the world’s most advanced military technologies. As Dr. Mishra said that our missiles are the best, this achievement not only enhances the confidence of the Indian armed forces, but also strengthens India’s technical and strategic credit on the world stage.
China
Technical challenge: China has hypersonic missiles like DF-ZEDF and Star Sky-2, but India’s indigenous scramble engine and 1,000 second test challenges the world records of the world. This Indian missile can target Chinese military bases located near areas such as Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh.
Regional Impact: India’s growing military power and deployment of hypersonic missiles can curb China’s aggression in the Indo-Pacific region. This missile can also pose a threat to Chinese naval vessels and coastal bases.
Strategic concern: India’s move may force China to advance its missile defense systems and invest more in hypersonic technology. This may speed up the regional missile race.
Pakistan
Military imbalance: Pakistan does not yet have indigenous hypersonic missile programs. The Pakistan Air Force has recently described the Chinese-made CM-400AKG missile as hypersonic, but its credibility has been questioned. India’s hypersonic missiles can easily penetrate Pakistan’s air defense systems.
Strategic pressure: This missile can carry out quick and accurate attacks on Pakistan’s major military bases such as Karachi, Rawalpindi and Islamabad. This will affect Pakistan’s strategic depth. Advertisement
Dependence on China: India’s progress may force Pakistan to become more dependent on Chinese technology to protect itself, which will reduce its autonomy.
BrahMos-II and other projects
This hypersonic missile by DRDO is part of the BrahMos-II program, which is being developed by the joint venture of India and Russia BrahMos Aerospace. The world’s fastest supersonic cruise missile (Mac 3.5, Range 650 km) has already proved its credibility.
BrahMos-II will improve it further, its speed will be 7-8 Mac and the firepower will be 1,500 km. The missile is inspired by Russia’s 3M22 Zircon missile. But it will use DRDO’s indigenous scumjet engine, which will reduce India’s dependence on Russia.
Other DRDO’s other hypersonic projects include …
Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV): It is a unmanned scramble -operated aircraft, which will be used as a carrier to launch hypersonic missiles and low -cost satellites. It was successfully tested in 2020, with a speed of Mac 6 in 23 seconds.
Shaurya missile: It is a medium -range surface -to -surface ballistic missile that is capable of carrying a Mac 7.5 speed and a range of 1,900 km capable of carrying atoms and traditional weapons. It joined the Strategic Force Command in 2020.
future plan
In the future, DRDO plans to develop BrahMos-II up to Mac 8 and to develop a more distance. In addition, HSTDV will also be used for civil uses, such as cheap satellite projections. DRDO’s hypersonic missile is a revolutionary step in India’s defense and technical capabilities.
It not only establishes India as a global military power, but also affects the regional power balance. This missile is a strategic challenge for China and Pakistan, which may force them to rethink their military strategies and defense systems.
This step of India strengthens self -reliant India and Make in India initiative. This shows that India is now leading the world’s most advanced military technologies. As Dr. Mishra said that our missiles are the best, this achievement not only enhances the confidence of the Indian armed forces, but also strengthens India’s technical and strategic credit on the world stage.
