New Delhi (Defence Correspondent): The Centre for Advanced Systems (CAS) at the DRDO recently organised a day-long workshop on hypersonic. The event was to commemorating the completion of 1000 hypersonic tests on space vehicles in its hypersonic wind tunnel (HWT).
The attendees emphasised advancements in testing, simulation, and material innovations, playing a critical role in strengthening India’s hypersonic research ecosystem and fostering the development of next-generation aerospace technologies.
The event was also a significant one from the point of advancement of India’s defence technology because India has been developing hypersonic technology and missiles, and has made significant progress in this area.
Major focus was also placed during the event on new materials that can withstand the extreme conditions encountered during hypersonic flight, such as intense heat and pressure.
For India, these innovations are essential for developing next-generation hypersonic vehicles that can operate effectively under such conditions.
In fact it was only this year in November that India successfully test-launched its first long-range hypersonic missile. The missile developed by the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) can carry payloads over 1,500 kilometers.
This accomplishment put India among a select group of countries that have developed hypersonic missiles, including the United States, China, Russia, and North Korea.
Other than this, DRDO has also developed Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV), an unmanned aircraft that can carry hypersonic and long-range cruise missiles. The HSTDV can be used for civilian applications, such as launching small satellites.
Other crucial hypersonic technology projects that the country is working on, include the BrahMos-II hypersonic missile, which is being developed jointly with Russia and the HGV-202F, a hypersonic glide vehicle with a range of 5,500 kilometres and speeds up to Mach 20-21.
But it is not just India that is eyeing expansion of its hypersonic technology.
Why it is sought after is because a missile with hypersonic technology can travel at a speed greater than Mach 5, which is five times the speed of sound. Additionally, they are difficult to intercept because they can manoeuvre in flight and have low radar visibility.
Such weapons are different from ballistic missiles because they can re-enter the atmosphere much quicker. They are also faster, less detectable, and harder to intercept than long-range ballistic missiles.
Even as there is no denying that today the rise in defence spending and modernization programs is driving the growth of the global hypersonic technology market, there are several challenges like it is expensive and requires cutting-edge materials and engineering expertise, testing and deployment need careful management as these systems must operate with a high degree of precise manoeuvrability.
However, with India focused on enhancing its national security, hypersonic technology is something that fits in the centre of India’s plans for technological advancement in defence. Experts believe that not only will it boost India’s artillery but also secure its ambition of achieving Atmanirbharta that is self-reliance along with bringing it up among the global elites.
