In a significant advancement of its military capabilities, India successfully conducted the flight test of a long-range hypersonic missile off the coast of Odisha.
This achievement places India among a select group of nations possessing such advanced military technology.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh termed the successful test a “historic moment” and a “stupendous achievement.” He praised the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), armed forces, and industry partners for their contributions to this milestone.
The hypersonic missile, developed by DRDO, is capable of carrying various payloads over distances exceeding 1,500 kilometers. Hypersonic missiles typically travel at speeds over five times the speed of sound (Mach 5) and are designed to evade most air defense systems. Advanced versions can even reach speeds exceeding Mach 15.
“India has achieved a major milestone by successfully conducting a flight trial of a long-range hypersonic missile from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Island, off the coast of Odisha,” Singh stated on ‘X’ (formerly Twitter).
“This significant achievement has put our country in the group of select nations having capabilities of such critical and advanced military technologies.”
The defence ministry reported that the missile was tracked by multiple range systems, including down-range ship stations, which confirmed its successful terminal maneuvers and high-precision impact.
The test was conducted in the presence of senior DRDO scientists and armed forces officers.
This indigenously developed missile is a product of the Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Missile Complex in Hyderabad, supported by various DRDO laboratories and industry partners.
Globally, Russia and China lead in hypersonic missile development, while the United States is pursuing an ambitious program to develop similar capabilities. Other nations, such as France, Germany, Australia, Japan, Iran, and Israel, are also working on hypersonic missile technologies.
The successful test reinforces India’s growing prowess in advanced defence technologies, signaling a significant leap in its strategic military capabilities. PTI