India's Hypersonic Milestone: A New Player in an Elite Club

Sarah J · 2024-11-20T10:16:24.000Z

India has successfully conducted its first test of a long-range hypersonic missile, marking a significant milestone in the country's military capabilities and intensifying the global hypersonic arms race. The test took place on Saturday, November 16, on Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Eastern India. - The missile demonstrated successful terminal maneuvers and impact with high accuracy. - Its maximum range exceeds 920 miles, comparable to a medium-range regional ballistic missile. - The exact nature of the missile remains unclear, but it could be either a land-attack weapon or a long-distance anti-ship missile called LR-AShM. The Indian hypersonic missile likely falls into one of two categories: 1. Air-breathing cruise missile : Using a ramjet or scramjet engine for sustained high speeds. 2. Hypersonic glide vehicle : Launched by a ballistic rocket and designed to skip-glide above the atmosphere while maneuvering. The test appears to be related to the latter design, involving a ballistic rocket that releases one or more maneuverable hypersonic glide vehicles upon exiting Earth's atmosphere. India's test is part of a broader global hypersonic arms race: - Initiated by Russia and China in the 2000s in response to U.S. ballistic missile defense improvements. - The United States has also been developing hypersonic weapons to match Chinese and Russian capabilities. Hypersonic weapons are valued not just for their speed but for their ability to maneuver at extreme velocities, potentially confounding existing missile defense systems. While the full capabilities and strategic impact of India's new hypersonic missile remain to be seen, this test represents a significant advancement in the country's military technology. It also highlights the ongoing global competition in developing increasingly sophisticated weapon systems.

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India's Hypersonic Milestone: A New Player in an Elite Club | SEINET