The Author is Former Director General of Information Systems and A Special Forces Veteran, Indian Army

DRDO CARRIED OUT SUCCESSFUL FLIGHT-TRIAL OF INDIA'S FIRST LONG-RANGE HYPERSONIC MISSILE ON NOVEMBER 16, 2024.

India successfully flight-tested a long-range hypersonic missile off the coast of Odisha on November 16, 2024. Earlier, in 2020, the DRDO had tested an air-breathing scramjet propulsion system that achieved a speed of Mach 6 for 23 seconds. Hypersonic Glide Vehicles (HGVs) and Hypersonic Cruise Missiles (HCMs) are the two types of hypersonic weapon systems. HGVs are launched via a rocket before gliding to their intended target, while HCMs are powered by air-breathing high-speed engines or 'scramjets' after acquiring their target.

India successfully flight-tested a long-range hypersonic missile off the coast of Odisha on November 16, 2024, marking a significant milestone in military modernisation.

According to an official press release, the hypersonic missile tested on 16 November can carry various payloads over ranges exceeding 1,500 km. It was developed by laboratories of the Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Missile Complex in Hyderabad, in collaboration with other DRDO labs and industry partners. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh hailed it as a historic milestone, placing India among a select group of nations possessing such advanced military technologies.

The indigenous hypersonic missiles, capable of flying at speeds exceeding Mach 5 (five times the speed of sound), are a critical deterrent against regional adversaries, particularly China and Pakistan. Their ability to manoeuvre mid-flight allows them to evade traditional missile defence systems, making them extremely difficult to intercept. This capability enhances India's offensive potential and strengthens the credibility of its nuclear deterrence by ensuring its arsenal can penetrate advanced defence systems deployed by adversaries.

Hypersonic missiles can target time-sensitive threats and navigate complex air defence environments due to their unpredictable flight paths, making them particularly effective against mobile targets or heavily defended installations. They are designed for use by all three branches of the Indian Armed Forces. A naval variant would bolster India's ability to strike enemy warships from long distances with high precision.

Russia and China are the only nations with operational hypersonic missiles, with Russia's 'Avangard' and China's DF-ZF showcasing advanced capabilities.

Countries including Russia, China, the United States, France, Germany, Australia, Japan, Iran, and Israel are all developing hypersonic missiles. However, Russia and China are currently the only nations with operational hypersonic missile systems. While the US has tested hypersonic missiles, it does not yet possess an operational system. In May 2024, the US Army awarded Lockheed Martin a $756 million contract to enhance the nation's ground-based hypersonic weapon system, the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW).

Russia's 'Avangard', a nuclear-capable hypersonic glide vehicle operational since 2019, can reach speeds exceeding Mach 20, while the 'Tsirkon' (Zircon) hypersonic cruise missile operates at speeds of Mach 8-9. Russia has effectively used its 'Kinzhal' hypersonic missiles in Ukraine since 2022, as American 'Patriot' air defence systems supplied to Ukraine have proven ineffective against hypersonic missiles. Similarly, Iran's 'Fattah' hypersonic missiles have easily penetrated the US-supplied THAAD anti-ballistic missile system in Israel.

The Chinese DF-ZF is an HGV integrated with the DF-17 missile and has been operational since 2020. Additionally, China's 'Starry Sky-2', a hypersonic cruise missile prototype capable of Mach 6 speeds, is focused on regional dominance. In September 2024, China successfully tested a nuclear-capable hypersonic ICBM.

At the Zhuhai Airshow in November 2024, China unveiled its new GDF-600 hypersonic boost-glide weapon, capable of speeds up to Mach 7, with a range of 200-600 km. This system can deploy various submunitions, including supersonic missiles, drones, and loitering munitions, mid-flight. This versatility allows it to conduct kinetic strikes, electronic warfare (EW), and reconnaissance across multiple targets. The integration of EW weapons into the HGV's payload could disrupt enemy communications and radar systems. The mid-flight deployment of EW assets also enhances the HGV's effectiveness in neutralising tactical targets. Furthermore, it could carry non-nuclear electromagnetic pulse (NNEMP) weapons or radio-frequency weapons for EW missions.

At the Zhuhai Airshow 2024, China unveiled its GDF-600 hypersonic boost-glide weapon and the versatile Jetank heavy UAV, signalling significant advancements in hypersonic and drone technologies.

According to Pete Hegseth, a Fox News host and US Defence Secretary appointee under President-elect Donald Trump, Chinese hypersonic missiles could potentially destroy US aircraft carriers within the first 20 minutes of a conflict. While this may be an alarmist perspective, it underscores the gravity of the threat posed by such systems.

Drone wars are raging in the Ukraine War, with both Ukraine and Russia employing fire-belching 'Dragon' drones'. In World War II, both Germany and Allies used thermite aerial bombs but in the present context, Ukraine first used Dragon drones against Russian forces. Dragon drones carry thermite; a mixture comprising metal powder (most often aluminium) and powdered iron oxide or rust. It generates heat more than 2,200 degrees Celsius, which can burn even military-grade vehicles and even burns underwater.

Combining thermite with high-precision drones that can bypass traditional defences makes dragon drones highly effective and dangerous. Russian units also appear to have used the substance. It was possibly used in March 2023 on targets in eastern Ukraine in the Vuhledar region. Thermite bombs are particularly dangerous because their effects are hard to contain, even when targeting military positions, unlike conventional weapons.

At the Zhuhai Air Show 2024, which concluded on November 17, China unveiled the 'Jetank', a heavy UAV showcased for the first time. According to the Global Times, it has a maximum take-off weight of 16 tons, a maximum payload capacity of six tonnes, and a wingspan of 25 meters. This large drone can carry laser-guided bombs, glide bombs, anti-ship missiles, air-to-air missiles and smaller drones; a virtual swarm carrier. It has eight hardpoints and can switch mission modules using different modularised payloads. The drone is equipped with a radar system and electro-optical pod at its nose. It can be linked to the satellite, providing battlefield situational awareness and remote-control capability.

With a jet engine, range of 11,500 km and equipped with AI technology, Jetank is comparable to modern fighter jets and bombers. China's Wing Loong-X drone displayed its full anti-submarine capabilities at the Zhuhai Airshow equipped with multiple payloads like sonar buoy pods, torpedoes, air-to-air missiles, and anti-ship missiles. It can integrate combat systems to conduct missions covering land and air, surface, and underwater domains. China's PLA is developing more than 50 types of drones with varying capabilities, amassing a fleet of tens of thousands of drones, potentially many times larger than the US.

Finally, India's foray into hypersonic missile technology represents a crucial step in modernizing its military. But we have a long way to go for building adequate hypersonic and drone capabilities for credible deterrence and proactive abilities.