 "A sonic leap forward: India’s hypersonic breakthrough")
The successful testing of a hypersonic missile, reportedly with a speed achievement of Mach 6, adds a significant qualitative edge to India’s offensive capabilities. From the APJ Abdul Kalam Island, a hypersonic missile streaked into the atmosphere, reaching speeds in excess of Mach 6 and traversing over 1,500 kilometres. This is no ordinary test. It signals India’s entry into an exclusive club of nations—alongside the US, Russia, and China—that possess hypersonic weapons capable of altering the calculus of modern warfare.
At its core, hypersonic technology represents a paradigm shift. Unlike traditional ballistic missiles that follow a predictable arc or cruise missiles that fly at subsonic or supersonic speeds, hypersonic missiles combine speed, maneuverability, and sustained atmospheric flight. Their blistering pace—exceeding five times the speed of sound—renders them nearly impossible to intercept with current missile defence systems.
The Speed of Deterrence
The speed of Mach 5 and above matters because it compresses the decision-making time of adversaries to near zero. At these velocities, a missile launched from India’s mainland could hit targets deep within hostile territory or strike a moving naval formation in minutes. This leaves adversaries with little time to react, let alone deploy countermeasures. Moreover, the kinetic energy delivered at such speeds magnifies the destructive force, allowing hypersonic weapons to deliver devastating blows even without explosive warheads.
For India, whose strategic environment is defined by two nuclear-armed adversaries, this speed is critical. A Mach 5+ missile enhances pre-emptive strike capabilities against enemy airbases, missile silos, and naval fleets. In the maritime domain, where carrier strike groups are pivotal, hypersonic missiles could obliterate an enemy formation before its anti-air defences come into play. It signals to both Beijing and Islamabad that their prized assets are no longer safe.
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Hypersonic missiles also introduce a nightmare scenario for missile defence systems. Unlike ballistic missiles, which are tracked via predictable trajectories, hypersonic missiles operate in the atmospheric sweet spot—too high for traditional air defences and too low for space-based interceptors. Their ability to maneuver mid-flight compounds the difficulty of interception. A defensive system that can barely cope with ballistic threats becomes effectively useless against hypersonics.
China, which has aggressively developed its DF-ZF hypersonic glide vehicles, has already demonstrated the strategic value of this unpredictability. India’s successful test ensures that it does not lag in this vital technology. With hypersonic capabilities, India can meaningfully challenge and often bypass even advanced systems like China’s S-400 air defence or naval Aegis systems deployed by other powers in the Indian Ocean region.
The Power of Serial Production
The test’s significance extends beyond its technical feats. India’s indigenous development of hypersonic technology ensures self-reliance, crucial for scaling up production. Localised production allows for serial manufacturing of hypersonic missiles, a game-changer in the age of attritional warfare. Modern conflicts demand not just advanced weaponry but also sufficient quantities to sustain prolonged engagements. Hypersonics are no exception.
This approach is particularly pertinent given the lessons from Ukraine, where high-attrition warfare has underscored the importance of numbers in modern conflict. A limited inventory of cutting-edge weapons can only achieve so much if they are quickly depleted. India’s robust defense industrial base, driven by public-private collaboration, can now churn out hypersonics at scale, ensuring that its armed forces remain well-stocked in the event of an extended conflict.
A Transformational Weapon
The implications of this breakthrough are profound. India’s hypersonic missile is not merely a tool of deterrence but also an instrument of offensive warfighting. Its ability to strike land-based targets, such as airbases or military installations, with unprecedented speed and precision shifts the strategic balance in the region. Equally significant is its utility against naval targets. The missile’s capacity to neutralise aircraft carriers and destroyers adds a potent arrow to India’s quiver, particularly as China expands its naval footprint in the Indian Ocean.
Yet this is only the beginning. India is expected to conduct further tests later this year, aiming for greater ranges and even faster speeds. These advancements could extend India’s strike capabilities deep into Asia, offering the potential to target high-value installations or naval groups far beyond its shores. As China continues its military build-up and Pakistan eyes its own tactical capabilities, India’s hypersonic program signals that it will not be outpaced.
A Leap into the Future
This test is more than a technological milestone; it is a strategic statement. By developing and testing hypersonic weapons domestically, India has demonstrated its ability to keep pace with the most advanced military powers. This is not a solitary achievement but part of a broader effort to modernise India’s armed forces and enhance its strategic autonomy.
Hypersonic missiles open several strategic options for India. From pre-emptive strikes on hardened land targets to overwhelming naval formations, hypersonic weapons offer versatility that conventional missiles cannot match. Simply put, the hypersonic missile brings the offensive capabilities of India’s emerging global military power up to speed.
The writer is a senior journalist with expertise in defence. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost’s views.
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