Hello defence lovers, today we will discuss Project Vishnu! It is the proposed Hypersonic Missile development program of India under the DRDO.
Under Project Vishnu, there are plans to develop two long-range Hypersonic Missiles. DRDO is validating the technologies required for these two missiles on its Hypersonic Technology Demonstration Vehicle (HSTDV). DRDO plans fresh trials in 2022 of the HSTDV that will pave the way for developing two hypersonic missiles. Project Vishnu is likely to get an official sanction in 2022.
One hypersonic cruise missile will be surface to surface, with a range of 2500 KM and, based on the HSTDV tech, likely to enter service by 2024-25. The second phase of Project Vishnu plans to develop a much more compact, and smaller Air launched Hypersonic cruise missile for fighter jets with a range of 700+ KM.
Before diving into project Vishnu and Indian Hypersonic Missile program, let’s first check about Hypersonic Missiles in general and some hypersonic weapons in use and those in advanced stages of testing.
Hypersonic Missiles
A hypersonic missile has travelling speeds of Mach 5 and higher that is five times faster than the speed of sound, around 1 mile per second. Bloomberg quotes, “They’re so fast, their speed can change the surrounding air molecules.” Adding further that “They can carry a nuclear warhead, fly low and be hard to detect.”
Hypersonic Missiles come in two variants: Hypersonic Cruise Missiles and Hypersonic Glide Vehicles.
Hypersonic Cruise Missiles, powered by scramjets, reach their target with the help of this high-speed jet engine travelling at extreme speeds of more than Mach-5. It is a non-ballistic missile system – the opposite of traditional Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBM), which utilises gravitational forces to reach their target.
Hypersonic Glide Vehicles utilise re-entry vehicles. First of all, the missile is launched into space on an arching trajectory, where the warheads are released and fall towards the atmosphere at hypersonic speeds. Rather than leaving the payload at the mercy of gravitational forces – as for traditional ICBMs – the warheads re-enter the atmosphere, gliding on a hypersonic glide vehicle.
Through its aerodynamic shape, it can ride the shockwaves generated by its lift as it breaches the speed of sound, giving it enough momentum to overcome existing missile defence systems. The glide vehicle surfs in the atmosphere between 40-100 km in altitude and reaches its destination by leveraging aerodynamic forces.
Operational Hypersonic Missiles
Russia, China, and the U.S. have the most advanced capabilities. India is also developing such weapons. France and Australia may also be pursuing the technology. North Korea also claimed to have tested a hypersonic missile recently.
Avangard – (Russia)
The Avangard (previously known as Objekt 4202) is a Russian hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) that can be carried as a MIRV payload by the UR-100UTTKh, R-36M2 and RS-28 Sarmat heavy ICBMs. It can deliver nuclear and conventional payloads.
Kh-47M2 Kinzhal (The dagger) – (Russia)
The Kh-47M2 Kinzhal is a Russian nuclear-capable hypersonic air-to-surface missile. Kinzhal has a range of more than 2,000 km (1,200 mi), Mach 12 speed (4.1 km/s), and can perform evasive manoeuvres at every stage of its flight. It can carry conventional and nuclear warheads. It can be launched from Tu-22M3 bombers or MiG-31K interceptors. The dagger is in service at air bases in Russia’s Southern Military District and Western Military District.
3M22 Zircon – (Russia)
The 3M22 Zircon, also spelt as 3M22 Tsirkon ( NATO reporting name: SS-N-33), is a scramjet-powered manoeuvring anti-ship hypersonic cruise missile of Russia. The missileis a further development of the HELA (Hypersonic Experimental Flying Vehicle) which was developed by NPO Mashinostroyeniya displayed at the 1995 MAKS air show.
XingKong-2 (Starry-sky-2) – (China)
In August 2021, China launched a boost-glide vehicle to low-earth orbit, circling Earth before manoeuvring toward its target location, missing its target by only two dozen miles.
DF-ZF – (China)
The DF-ZF is currently operational Chinese hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV), previously denoted by the Pentagon as WU-14. On 70th anniversary of China, the DF-ZF, designed to be mounted on a DF-17, a ballistic missile specifically designed to carry HGVs, was shown to the world for the first time.
Also Read, DF-17 Chinese Hypersonic Threat
Tested Hypersonic Systems
Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV) – (India)
The HSTDV is a scramjet demonstration vehicle designed for hypersonic speed flight. It is under development as a carrier vehicle for hypersonic and long-range cruise missiles.
Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW) – (the USA)
The Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW) is a surface-to-surface hypersonic missile planned by the United States Army. The weapon consists of a large rocket booster that carries the unpowered Common-Hypersonic Glide Body (C-HGB) in a nose cone. Once the booster reaches significant altitude and speed, it releases the C-HGB, which glides at hypersonic speeds.
AGM-183 ARRW – (the USA)
The AGM-183 ARRW (“Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon”) is a hypersonic weapon of the United States Air Force currently in planning. Under Development by Lockheed Martin, the boost-glide weapon is first propelled to a maximum speed of more than Mach 20 by a missile before gliding towards its target.
Brahmos-II
BrahMos-II or BrahMos Mark II is a hypersonic cruise missile currently under development by India‘s DRDO and Russia‘s NPO Mashinostroyenia, under their joint venture called the BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited.
The BrahMos-II is to have a range of 1,000 kilometres and a speed of Mach 8. During the cruise stage of flight, the missile will be propelled by a scramjet engine. Fourth-generation multi-purpose Russian Naval destroyers (Project 21956) are also likely to carry the BrahMos II.
BrahMos Aerospace named the missile BrahMos-II (K). It is in honour of the former President of India, Bharat Ratna APJ Abdul Kalam.
However, the future of this missile programme is in mystery following the Russian “Special Operation” in Ukraine.
Indian Hypersonic Missile Program
India is going ahead with the development of ground and flight test hardware as part of a plan for a hypersonic cruise missile. In 2020, DRDO had successfully tested a Hypersonic Technology Demonstrated Vehicle (HSTDV). During the tests, hypersonic air-breathing scramjet technology was demonstrated.
Defence Minister encouraged scientists to work towards developing hypersonic missile technology at a quicker pace. This was after China’s successful demonstration of hypersonic glide vehicles (HGV). India has already developed its cryogenic engine. It has also demonstrated it in a 23-second flight.
India is just a few years behind the US, China, and Russia in developing hypersonic missiles. It is expected that India will be able to field a hypersonic weapons system within four years, with medium- to long-range capabilities.
India operates approximately 12 hypersonic wind tunnels, capable of testing speeds of up to Mach 13. Adding to this is the reassuring fact that DRDO has also validated many associated crucial technologies.
These include Aerodynamic configuration related to hypersonic manoeuvres, Use of scramjet propulsion for ignition followed by sustained combustion at the hypersonic flow and Thermo-structural characterisation of high-temperature materials. Separation mechanisms at hypersonic velocities have also been validated.
Conclusion
With rising geopolitical tensions globally, the focus on hypersonic weapons will increase. More countries are going to invest significant resources in their design and development. Also, the chances of implementing “Non-Proliferation” laws aiming to prevent the development of these missiles will increase.
In such conditions, having an operational hypersonic missile before the west will undoubtedly provide India with an edge. Project Vishnu will be the final consolidating programme specifically aimed at developing weapons. The necessary technologies to make Project Vishnu a success are already well into their development cycle.
Project Vishnu, in essence, is the IGMDP of the 21st century for India!
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