India successfully tests first long-range hypersonic missile, joins elite club

India achieves major milestone with first successful long-range hypersonic missile test

In a major milestone for India’s defence capabilities, the country successfully conducted its first flight trial of a long-range hypersonic missile on Saturday night. The missile, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), is designed to carry various payloads and has an impressive range of over 1500 kilometers, marking a significant leap in India’s military technology.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh hailed the successful test as a historic achievement, emphasizing that India has now joined a select group of nations possessing the advanced technology needed to develop and deploy hypersonic missiles. “This is a historic moment, and this significant achievement has put our country in the group of select nations having capabilities of such critical and advanced military technologies,” Rajnath Singh tweeted following the successful test.

India has achieved a major milestone by successfully conducting flight trial of long range hypersonic missile from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island, off-the-coast of Odisha. This is a historic moment and this significant achievement has put our country in the group of select nations… pic.twitter.com/jZzdTwIF6w

— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) November 17, 2024

The flight trial was closely monitored by a variety of tracking systems deployed across multiple domains. According to the DRDO, data obtained from down-range ship stations confirmed the missile’s successful terminal maneuvers and impact with high accuracy, further underscoring the precision and reliability of the weapon system.

The missile was developed indigenously at the Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Missile Complex in Hyderabad, in collaboration with other DRDO laboratories and industry partners. Senior DRDO scientists, along with members of the Indian Armed Forces, were present to oversee the trial, which was conducted late on Saturday evening.

With this success, India now joins the ranks of leading military powers such as the United States, Russia, and China, all of whom are actively pursuing hypersonic missile programs. Hypersonic missiles, which travel at speeds greater than Mach 5 (five times the speed of sound), are seen as a game-changer in modern warfare, capable of evading current defense systems due to their speed and maneuverability.

This achievement is expected to enhance India’s strategic deterrence capabilities, ensuring a significant edge in future defence scenarios. The successful flight trial also reinforces India’s growing position as a global leader in advanced defence technology, with a focus on self-reliance in military innovation.

As global powers continue to invest in hypersonic technologies, India’s successful test places it at the forefront of this new era of defence, bolstering both national security and geopolitical stature.

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