India's first long-range hypersonic missile

• DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) has successfully flight tested India's first long-range hypersonic missile.

• This is a significant defence and technology development achievement and a major step forward for India's missile programme.

• The hypersonic missile is designed as a key strategic capability for the armed forces, capable of carrying a variety of payloads (such as conventional or nuclear warheads) over a distance of over 1,500 kilometres.

• The missile travels at hypersonic speeds (five times or more the speed of sound), making it much easier to evade missile defence mechanisms and deliver a fast and effective strike against the enemy.

Features of Hypersonic Missile

• High speed: Hypersonic missiles have speeds of more than Mach 5 (5 times the speed of sound), making them much faster than conventional missiles. Due to such high speed, it is difficult to intercept anti-missile defense mechanisms.

• Long range: The missile is capable of hitting its target with accuracy at a distance of more than 1,500 kilometers, making it a powerful weapon to destroy distant targets.

• Flexibility: Hypersonic missiles can be designed to carry a variety of payloads such as conventional warheads, nuclear warheads, or other special payloads. This allows them to be used in a variety of military operations.

• Low altitude flight: Another feature of hypersonic missiles is that they can fly at low altitudes during their journey, which helps them evade enemy radars and make rapid changes in the route.