India is forging ahead with groundbreaking advancements in hypersonic missile technology. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is currently developing 12 different types of hypersonic weapons aimed at enhancing both offensive and defensive capabilities. Among these is the flagship initiative, Project Vishnu. Alongside this, several other advanced weapons are under development.
These include a Hypersonic Glide Vehicle (HGV), hypersonic cruise missiles, and hypersonic missile defence systems. The overarching goal of this initiative is to achieve self-reliance in high-speed strike capabilities and to develop robust defences against similar technologies.
In a major milestone, DRDO conducted its first hypersonic missile test in November 2024. This test marked a significant achievement in India’s scramjet engine development and placed India among a select group of nations, alongside the United States, Russia, and China, that have successfully developed scramjet-powered hypersonic systems. With this success, India became one of the few world powers to possess long-range hypersonic cruise missile capability.
Hypersonic weapons are defined as those capable of travelling at speeds greater than Mach 5 (five times the speed of sound). No existing defence system in the world can reliably intercept such high-speed cruise missiles, making them a formidable asset. DRDO is thus developing 12 such next-generation hypersonic weapons tailored for the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force.
The first of these is the Extended Trajectory Long-Range Hypersonic Cruise Missile (ET-LDHCM), developed under Project Vishnu. It is designed to travel at speeds up to Mach 8 and is powered by a scramjet engine. This missile is being developed to deliver precise and rapid strikes on land and sea-based targets. Reports indicate that it will have a maximum strike range of 2,500 km. Production for induction into the armed forces is expected to begin by 2030.
The Hypersonic Glide Vehicle (HGV) is another major development. The missile tested by DRDO in November 2024 falls under this category. It is launched using a ballistic missile or rocket, after which it detaches and glides towards its target at hypersonic speed, propelled by a scramjet engine. Equipped with sophisticated navigation systems, the vehicle can make sharp vertical movements to evade enemy radar and missile defence systems. Designed as a long-range anti-ship missile, it is expected to have an operational range of 1,500 km and will be inducted by 2030.
In parallel, India is also working on a dedicated hypersonic missile defence system under Project Kusa. This initiative is aimed at using the knowledge gained through offensive hypersonic weapon development to build robust defences against such threats.
One of the most anticipated developments is the BrahMos-II, the hypersonic version of the Indo-Russian BrahMos cruise missile. Designed to travel at speeds of Mach 7 to 8, this land-attack missile is expected to have a range of 1,500 km. Development is in advanced stages, and it will significantly boost India’s strategic missile capabilities.
DRDO is also designing naval and aircraft-launched versions of hypersonic cruise missiles, with submarine-launched versions under consideration. Additionally, hypersonic drones and decoys are being developed to overwhelm and confuse enemy radar systems, opening up tactical opportunities by penetrating gaps in hostile defences.
India aims to complete its comprehensive hypersonic missile development programme by 2030. The urgency is underscored by hypersonic threats from both its northern and western borders. China has DF-17, a hypersonic cruise missile, while Pakistan possesses the Fatah-II, a hypersonic ballistic missile. During Operation Sindoor, Pakistan launched a Fatah missile against India, which was intercepted and neutralised. This experience has further pushed India to fast-track the development of a multi-layered hypersonic weapons programme.
With strategic foresight and technological innovation, India is firmly on track to emerge as a global leader in hypersonic missile systems by the end of this decade.
