Hypersonic Missiles: India's Latest Advancement in Defense Technology

What are Hypersonic Missiles?

• Missiles capable of speeds exceeding Mach 5 (5400+ km/hr)
• Advanced maneuverability during flight
• Part of cruise missile family, alongside subsonic (<Mach 1) and supersonic (Mach 1-5) variants

Types of Hypersonic Missiles

• Hypersonic Glide Vehicles (HGVs)
• Hypersonic Cruise Missiles (HCMs) with scramjet propulsion

SCRAMJET Technology Breakthrough

• Supersonic combustion ramjet enables sustained hypersonic flight
• Key differentiator: Supersonic air-fuel combustion
• No moving parts required for operation

India Joins Elite Hypersonic Club

• Successfully tested scramjet technology

• Joins USA, Russia, and China in operational hypersonic capabilities
• Significant milestone in defense modernization

Differences between ballistic and cruise missiles:

• Ballistic missiles arc high into space following a parabolic trajectory and rely primarily on gravity during descent, reaching extremely high speeds and typically carrying larger payloads.
• Cruise missiles fly at relatively lower altitudes within the atmosphere, use continuous propulsion and guidance systems, and can navigate complex paths to their targets.

Scramjet Vs Ramjet Technology