India's recent successful test of a long-range hypersonic missile has been hailed as a groundbreaking achievement by Dr. G. Satheesh Reddy, Scientific Adviser to Raksha Mantri and former Chairman of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Dr. Reddy revealed that this missile represents a unique hybrid design, combining features of both ballistic and cruise missiles, a capability unmatched by any other country in the world.
Speaking at a defence event, Dr. Reddy emphasized that this new missile is not a conventional hypersonic cruise missile. Instead, it is launched like a ballistic missile, achieving high speed and altitude, and then transitions to cruise mode, allowing for maneuverability and sustained flight. "This missile is launched like a ballistic missile and then transitions to cruise mode. No one in the world has it," he stated.
This innovative dual-mode capability provides significant strategic advantages. It combines the speed and altitude of a ballistic missile with the maneuverability and extended range of a cruise missile, making it extremely difficult to intercept and significantly enhancing its ability to evade enemy defenses.
Hypersonic weapons, with their unmatched speed, precision, and adaptability, are at the forefront of modern military technology. India's successful test of this advanced system places it among an elite group of nations pursuing hypersonic capabilities. However, the unique hybrid design of India's new missile puts it ahead of global peers in this specific technological domain.
