The DRDO has testfired the Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV) on September 7 which is expected to lay the foundation for the development of a hypersonic cruise missile system.
DRDO chief said that a complete hypersonic cruise missile system in the next four to five years which will have the capability to strike its targets at speeds at least double than that of world’s present fastest BrahMos supersonic cruise missile.
The cruise missiles are the one which flies at a lower altitude. In cruise missiles, we have varieties called Subsonic cruise missile, Supersonic cruise missile and hypersonic cruise missiles.
The hypersonic cruise missiles are the one which actually travels at six times, 6 to 7 times more than speed of sound which is approximate about 300+ metre per second on the surface of the ear.
They have attempted to got a scramjet engine, which works at the hypersonic speed breathing the air in the atmosphere, taking the oxygen in the atmosphere and then burns it and that happens at the hypersonic speed.
The BrahMos supersonic cruise missile is considered to be the world’s fastest cruise missile at the moment with speeds of around 2.8 Machs.
The BrahMos Extended Range Missile can be launched at targets more than 400 kms and can strike its targets at longer ranges than before. It was earlier used for striking targets slightly less than 290- 300 kms.
DRDO scientists are continuously looking at various systems which are being imported now and trying to make indigenous system and a lot of emphases is there to develop system indigenously.
The Rudram -1 anti-radiation missile launched from a fighter aircraft would require a few more tests to be completely proven and will provide Indian Air Force with the capability to strike enemy radars including surveillance and air defence system.
The Rudram-I missile system was successfully testfired recently from a Sukhoi-30MKI fighter aircraft near the East coast and it hit its intended target successfully tested.
The Supersonic Missile Assisted Release Torpedo (SMART) weapon system would boost the Navy’s anti-submarine warfare capability and allow it to engage enemy submarines from far off distance.
The SMART weapon system was successfully testfired for the first time on October 5 where a supersonic missile was used to launch a torpedo against a simulated submarine as a target and the test was fully successful.
