Why in news?

India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully flight-tested a long-range hypersonic missile off the coast of Odisha on November 17.

The missile can carry various payloads for ranges greater than 1,500 km for the Armed Forces. It has been indigenously developed by laboratories of the Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Missile Complex, Hyderabad, along with various other DRDO labs and industry partners.

What’s in today’s article?

• Hypersonic missiles
• India's Journey in Hypersonic Technology
• India tests its first hypersonic missile

Hypersonic missiles

• About
  • They are normally defined as fast, low-flying, and highly manoeuvrable weapons designed to be quick and agile for traditional missile defence systems to detect in time.
  • Unlike ballistic missiles, hypersonic weapons don’t follow a predetermined, arched trajectory and can manoeuvre on the way to their destination.
  • The term hypersonic describes any speed faster than five times that of sound, which is roughly 760 miles (1,220 km) per hour at sea level.
    • On the other hand, a supersonic missile travels at the speed between Mach 1 and Mach 5.
  • At hypersonic speeds, the air molecules around the flight vehicle start to change, breaking apart or gaining a charge in a process called ionization.
    • This subjects the hypersonic missiles to tremendous stresses as it pushes through the atmosphere.
• Types of hypersonic weapons
  • There are two main types of these missiles – Hypersonic Glide Vehicles (HGV) and Hypersonic Cruise Missiles (HCM).
    • The HGVs are launched from a rocket before gliding to the intended target.
    • HCMs are powered by air-breathing high-speed engines or ‘scramjets’ after acquiring their target.
• Advantages of hypersonic missiles
• Responsive Strike Capability: Hypersonic weapons can target distant, defended, or time-sensitive threats (e.g., road-mobile missiles) when other forces are unavailable or access is denied.
• Conventional Use: These weapons rely solely on kinetic energy for destruction, making them effective against unhardened targets or underground facilities.
• Challenges in Detection: These weapons fly at lower altitudes than ballistic missiles, complicating tracking over long distances using certain surface-based sensors, such as some radar systems.
• Engineering Challenges of Hypersonic Weapons
  • Heat and Air Resistance: Extreme speeds generate significant heat due to friction and air resistance, posing engineering challenges.
  • Precision Maneuverability: High-speed operation demands exceptional precision in manoeuvring.
  • Communication Difficulties: Maintaining connectivity with operators and decision-makers during hypersonic flight is complex.
  • High Costs: Development costs are significantly higher compared to ballistic missiles.
• Global Developments in Hypersonic Missile Technology
  • Russia and China: Leading in hypersonic missile development; Russia has deployed hypersonic missiles in Ukraine, including the Kinzhal system, which destroyed a large underground ammunition warehouse in 2022.
  • United States: Advancing under an ambitious program, including a $756 million contract awarded to Lockheed Martin in May 2024 for the Long Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW).
  • Other Nations: Countries like France, Germany, Australia, Japan, Iran, and Israel are also actively pursuing hypersonic missile systems.

India's Journey in Hypersonic Technology

• Initial Challenges: The 2019 test of the Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV) failed.
  • The HSTDV serves as a crucial building block in the development of long-range hypersonic weapons.
• Milestone in 2020: A second test demonstrated success with a scramjet-powered cruise vehicle achieving Mach 6 for 22-23 seconds.
• Further Development: Trials of longer duration and higher reliability are planned before deployment.

India tests its first hypersonic missile

• India's Hypersonic Missile Test: A Historic Achievement
  • India successfully tested its first long-range hypersonic missile, capable of flying at Mach 6 and executing mid-flight manoeuvres.
  • The missile, designed for ranges over 1,500 km, was launched from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha.
• Technical Features and Capabilities
  • Speed and Manoeuvrability: Combines the speed of ballistic missiles with the manoeuvring ability of cruise missiles.
  • Range: Over 1,500 km with precision targeting capabilities.
  • Applications: Usable across Army, Navy, and Air Force, with potential naval versions to target enemy warships.
• BrahMos Hypersonic Variant
  • A hypersonic version of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile (Mach 2.8, 450 km range) was considered but deemed too expensive for immediate development.
• Future Implications
  • The successful test marks a crucial step in India's defence capabilities, enabling the development of advanced hypersonic weaponry to strengthen national security and strategic deterrence.