India announces successful Hypersonic Missile Test

India has successfully tested a domestically developed long-range hypersonic missile, attaining a key milestone in military development that puts it in a small group of nations possessing the advanced technology.

About the Indian missile:

• Developed by: The Indian missile is developed by the state-run Defence Research and Development Organisation and industry partners.
• It is designed to carry payloads for ranges exceeding 1,500 km (930 miles) for the armed forces.
• Generally, the hypersonic missiles, capable of carrying conventional explosives or nuclear warheads, can fly in the range of five times the speed of sound (Mach 5 which is roughly 6,174 km) per hour at sea level.
• However, some advanced versions of hypersonic missiles can even fly at the speed of over 15 mach.
• Global race:
  • At present, Russia and China are way ahead in developing hypersonic missiles while the US is in the process of developing a range of such weapons under an ambitious programme.
  • Several other countries, including France, Germany, Australia, Japan, Iran, and Israel, are also pursuing projects to develop hypersonic missile systems. 

What are Hypersonic Missiles?

• Hypersonic missiles are a class of advanced weapon systems that travel at speeds greater than Mach 5, which is five times the speed of sound (around 6,200 km/h or 3,853 mph).
• These missiles are designed to fly much faster and with more agility than traditional ballistic missiles, which makes them a highly effective and difficult-to-intercept weapon in modern defense systems.
• Key Features of Hypersonic Missiles
  • Speed: Hypersonic missiles travel at speeds greater than Mach 5 (5 times the speed of sound), allowing them to reach their targets in a fraction of the time it would take traditional missiles. This speed gives them a significant advantage in evading interception by current missile defense systems.
  • Maneuverability: Unlike traditional ballistic missiles, which follow a predictable, parabolic trajectory, hypersonic missiles use aerodynamic lift to maneuver within the atmosphere. This means they can change course mid-flight, making them much harder to track or intercept. Ballistic missiles, once launched, follow a fixed path and can only change course after re-entry. Hypersonic weapons, on the other hand, can perform evasive maneuvers throughout their flight.
  • Boost-Glide Technology: Most hypersonic missiles utilize boost-glide These missiles are initially launched by a rocket booster, which carries them into the atmosphere at hypersonic speeds. After reaching a certain altitude, the missile uses aerodynamic lift to glide toward its target. This glide phase allows the missile to alter its course during flight, further complicating interception efforts.
  • Long Range: Hypersonic missiles can travel distances of thousands of kilometers, which is similar to the range of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). This makes them capable of striking distant targets with high precision and speed.
  • Missile Types: There are two main types of hypersonic weapons:
    • Hypersonic glide vehicles (HGV) are launched using a rocket. After separating from the rocket, the glide vehicle travels at speeds of Mach 5 or more towards its target.
    • Hypersonic cruise missiles (HCM) use scramjet engines. Scramjets are air-breathing engines designed for speeds above Mach 5 (over 6,100 km/h or 3,800 mph). They compress incoming air and combust fuel at supersonic speeds (faster than the speed of sound, or Mach 1), allowing for high-speed, long-range flight. These missiles are fast, maneuverable, and difficult to intercept. 

Significance of Hypersonic Missiles

• Evasion of Defense Systems: Traditional missile defense systems are designed to track and intercept ballistic missiles, which follow predictable high-altitude trajectories. However, the maneuverability and speed of hypersonic missiles make them difficult to track and intercept. The ability of these weapons to change course in mid-flight makes them a serious challenge for existing missile defense technologies.
• Enhanced Offensive Capabilities: For countries with nuclear arsenals, hypersonic missiles are seen as an effective way to ensure the credibility of their nuclear deterrent. By enabling missiles to evade interception, these systems make it much harder for an adversary to neutralize a nuclear strike.
• Strategic Advantage: The ability to travel at hypersonic speeds and maneuver mid-flight makes hypersonic missiles a strategic asset, capable of overwhelming or bypassing defense systems. They add a layer of security for nations, ensuring that even the most advanced defense systems cannot guarantee complete protection.

Challenges in Development

• Heat Resistance: Hypersonic missiles generate extreme heat due to friction with the atmosphere as they travel at such high speeds. This requires advanced materials that can withstand temperatures of over 2,000°C (3,632°F). Materials like carbon-carbon composites and heat-resistant alloys are used to protect the missile.
• Precision Guidance: To maintain their high speed and maneuverability, hypersonic missiles require advanced guidance systems. These systems need to be extremely precise, often relying on inertial navigation and artificial intelligence to adjust the missile’s course in real time.
• Propulsion Systems: The scramjet engines used in some hypersonic missiles operate by scooping in air at hypersonic speeds and compressing it for combustion. This allows the missile to maintain its speed without relying on rocket boosters throughout its flight. However, designing efficient scramjet engines that can operate at these speeds presents a major engineering challenge.