In News:

• India has made a major advancement in its defense capabilities with the successful flight test of its first long-range hypersonic missile, marking a historic moment in the country's defense technology.
• The test was conducted, by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), took place off the coast of Odisha from the Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Island.
• The missile has a range of over 1,500 km and is capable of carrying various payloads for all branches of the armed forces.

Key Highlights of the Test:

• Successful Trial: The missile successfully completed its flight test with high accuracy, confirmed by the data gathered from down-range ship stations. It performed a series of terminal maneuvers, validating its precision targeting capabilities.
• Speed and Range: The missile achieved hypersonic speeds (Mach 6), or six times the speed of sound, and is designed for a range of more than 1,500 km, far exceeding the capabilities of many conventional missiles.
• Indigenous Development: This missile is a product of DRDO's indigenous efforts, developed with contributions from the Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Missile Complex in Hyderabad, as well as other DRDO laboratories and industry partners.

What are Hypersonic Missiles?

• Definition: Hypersonic missiles are defined as weapons that travel at speeds greater than Mach 5 (five times the speed of sound), or about 3,836 miles per hour (6,174 km/h). At such speeds, they are incredibly difficult to track and intercept, posing a challenge for traditional missile defense systems.
• Types:
  • Hypersonic Glide Vehicles (HGVs): These are launched from rockets and glide towards their target.
  • Hypersonic Cruise Missiles (HCMs): These missiles use air-breathing engines like scramjets for sustained flight at hypersonic speeds.
• Advantages: Hypersonic missiles offer several advantages, including:
  • Responsive strike capability: They can target time-sensitive threats quickly and with high precision.
  • Manoeuvrability: Unlike ballistic missiles, which follow a predictable parabolic trajectory, hypersonic missiles can change course mid-flight, making them harder to defend against.
• Challenges:
  • Heat and air resistance: Traveling at such high speeds generates tremendous heat due to friction, presenting engineering challenges.
  • Tracking and interception: Their low-altitude flight and high speeds make them harder to detect and intercept with existing missile defense systems.
  • High costs: Developing and deploying hypersonic weapons comes at a higher cost than traditional missile systems.

Global Context of Hypersonic Weaponry

• Russia and China: Both Russia and China are leaders in hypersonic missile technology. Russia has already deployed the Kinzhal hypersonic missile in Ukraine, demonstrating its effectiveness in combat situations.
• United States: The U.S. is also making significant advancements, with contracts like the Long Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW), awarded to Lockheed Martin for continued development.
• Other Nations: Countries such as France, Germany, Australia, Japan, and Israel are also actively working on developing hypersonic missile systems.