India is making rapid strides in next-generation strike technology, with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) confirming that its hypersonic glide vehicle program is advancing more quickly than its hypersonic cruise missile counterpart.
Speaking at the recent ANI National Security Summit 2.0, DRDO Chairman Dr. Samir V Kamat announced that the country’s hypersonic glide missile—reportedly the Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LR-AShM)—has reached an advanced stage, with its maiden development trials anticipated to take place very soon.
The fundamental difference between the two cutting-edge systems lies in how they achieve and sustain their phenomenal speeds.
The upcoming glide missile utilises a boost-glide mechanism. A two-stage solid rocket motor propels the weapon to extreme altitudes and blistering speeds, which can peak at Mach 10.
Once the booster burns out and separates, the unpowered glide vehicle takes over, skipping and coasting toward its target.
In contrast, a hypersonic cruise missile relies on complex air-breathing scramjet engines to maintain powered flight throughout its entire journey, representing a much more daunting engineering hurdle.
Mastering the unpowered glide phase is a highly complex achievement.
As the vehicle manoeuvres through the upper atmosphere at an average speed of Mach 5, it endures intense aerodynamic friction and immense thermal stress, often facing temperatures reaching up to 2,000 degrees Celsius.
DRDO’s readiness to test this system highlights major domestic breakthroughs in heat-resistant materials, aerodynamic stability, and advanced indigenous avionics necessary to keep the weapon on target during its rapid, unpredictable descent.
Dr. Kamat’s statements shed light on India's calculated, step-by-step development strategy for a multi-layered strike force.
By pushing the glide missile to the forefront, the DRDO is securing a highly capable and technologically mature weapon system first.
This pragmatic focus allows the armed forces to establish a baseline hypersonic capability while researchers continue to refine the highly demanding scramjet propulsion technology required for future cruise variants.
Ultimately, these impending trials represent a massive leap forward for India's strategic and tactical arsenal. Hypersonic glide vehicles are specifically designed to defeat modern air defence shields.
Because they fly at lower trajectories than conventional ballistic missiles and can perform evasive mid-air manoeuvres, they are incredibly difficult for enemy ground and ship-based radars to track or intercept.
Building on past successes—such as the historic November 2024 long-range hypersonic flight trial and the 2020 validation of the Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV)—this new glide missile will significantly reduce adversary reaction times and solidify India’s position among a select group of nations wielding advanced hypersonic power.
