India Moves Closer to Operational Hypersonic Missamiles After DRDL Breakthrough
India already possesses missiles that reach hypersonic speeds, but the recent breakthrough by Defence Research and Development Laboratory marks progress toward a very different and more advanced category of weapons. The development is not about ballistic missiles that briefly touch hypersonic speeds during their descent. It is about scramjet-powered hypersonic cruise missiles, which rely on sustained air-breathing propulsion and are designed to fly long distances at extreme speeds while remaining maneuverable and difficult to intercept. This distinction is critical to understanding why the latest test matters.
Ballistic missiles such as the Agni missile series have been operational with India for years and routinely exceed Mach 5 during parts of their flight. However, these missiles follow largely predictable ballistic trajectories after their rocket boost phase. Their hypersonic speed is a by-product of gravity and altitude rather than sustained propulsion. Hypersonic cruise missiles, by contrast, remain powered throughout their flight using scramjet engines, fly at lower altitudes, and can maneuver unpredictably, making interception far more complex.
The recent test conducted by DRDL involved a full-scale scramjet combustor running continuously for over 12 minutes under simulated hypersonic conditions. This is a major technical milestone. Scramjets are among the most challenging propulsion systems ever developed because combustion must occur while air flows through the engine at several times the speed of sound. Maintaining stable combustion, managing extreme heat, and preventing structural failure over long durations are the primary hurdles that separate laboratory experiments from deployable weapons.
By demonstrating long-duration, actively cooled scramjet operation at full scale, India has crossed a critical threshold. This moves the programme beyond short, proof-of-concept tests and toward systems that can realistically be integrated into operational missiles. In practical terms, it means the core propulsion technology needed for hypersonic cruise missiles is no longer theoretical.
This development also reshapes India’s standing globally. The United States, China, and Russia remain ahead in terms of hypersonic flight testing and limited operational deployments. However, India is no longer in the early experimental phase. It has positioned itself among the small group of countries that have demonstrated sustained scramjet performance, placing it ahead of most other military powers that are still struggling with engine stability and thermal management.
Strategically, hypersonic cruise missiles would significantly enhance India’s deterrence posture. Their speed, maneuverability, and low-altitude flight profiles complicate enemy air defence planning and reduce reaction time. In a regional context, this capability would strengthen India’s ability to hold high-value targets at risk while preserving strategic autonomy in advanced weapons development.
The next steps will be decisive. Integrated engine testing, flight trials, guidance and control validation, and eventual weaponisation remain ahead. These phases will take time and carry technical risk. However, the most difficult barrier, sustained scramjet propulsion, has now been demonstrably crossed.
In essence, India is not claiming a new hypersonic capability from scratch. It is closing the gap between having missiles that briefly go hypersonic and possessing truly deployable hypersonic cruise missiles. The DRDL breakthrough signals that operational hypersonic cruise weapons are no longer a distant ambition but a realistic medium-term outcome.
