India successfully test-fired a long-range hypersonic missile. The trial, conducted on Saturday, November 16, from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast, places India among a select group of nations capable of developing advanced hypersonic missile systems.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh described the moment as significant. “This is a historic moment,” he stated on X, formerly known as Twitter. “This significant achievement has put our country in the group of select nations having capabilities of such critical and advanced military technologies.”

India has achieved a major milestone by successfully conducting flight trial of long range hypersonic missile from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island, off-the-coast of Odisha. This is a historic moment and this significant achievement has put our country in the group of select nations… pic.twitter.com/jZzdTwIF6w

— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) November 17, 2024

Hypersonic missiles are among the most advanced technologies in modern warfare, capable of travelling at speeds ranging from five to 25 times the speed of sound, or upwards of 6,200 kilometres per hour. These weapons are not just about speed, however. Their defining feature lies in their manoeuvrability, allowing them to change trajectory mid-flight and making their paths unpredictable. This characteristic, combined with their ability to fly at lower altitudes than traditional ballistic missiles, makes hypersonic missiles exceedingly difficult to track and intercept.

The @DRDO_India has successfully conducted a flight trial of its long range hypersonic missile on 16th Nov 2024 from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island, off-the-coast of Odisha.

Raksha Mantri Shri @rajnathsingh has congratulated DRDO, Armed Forces and the Industry for successful flight… pic.twitter.com/wq7yM2YS9f

— रक्षा मंत्री कार्यालय/ RMO India (@DefenceMinIndia) November 17, 2024

The global race to develop such systems has intensified in recent years. Russia made headlines in February 2024 when it deployed its Zircon hypersonic cruise missile in Ukraine. President Vladimir Putin has touted the weapon as part of a new generation of military capabilities, with successful tests from submarines and frigates.

China has also made strides, launching a hypersonic glide vehicle in 2021 that circled the globe before narrowly missing its target. Meanwhile, the United States tested an air-breathing hypersonic weapon in 2021, marking its first success of this kind since 2013. Even North Korea entered the fray earlier this year, announcing the successful trial of a solid-fuel hypersonic missile.

The global race for hypersonic weapons is intensifying, with smaller Asian nations working to develop advanced long-range missiles in parallel with larger military powers. These hypersonic missiles and Fractional Orbital Bombardment Systems (FOBS) are becoming a growing concern due to their ability to potentially evade missile defence systems and early detection networks.

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