India’s Hypersonic Missile Program

Strategic Imperative: Countering Evolving Threats

Initiated in 2020 by DRDO’s Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL), the program builds on BrahMos-II’s scramjet foundation to address regional threats exposed during Operation Sindoor, where IAF’s BrahMos and SCALP missiles devastated PAF bases but faced limitations against advanced air defences. Pakistan’s $2-3 billion underground airbase projects at Sargodha and Bholari, prompted by Sindoor’s 3m craters at Murid and Mushaf, aim to shield JF-17s and J-10Cs but remain vulnerable to hypersonic strikes targeting exposed runways. China’s 2024 DF-17 tests (2,500 km range) along the LAC further necessitate a rapid, evasive strike capability to deter J-20 stealth fighters and hypersonic threats.

Technical Prowess: A Scramjet-Powered Leap

Developed with Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) and private firms like L&T, the hypersonic missile features a scramjet engine for sustained Mach 6-8 flight, a low radar cross-section (RCS ~0.2 m²), and AI-enhanced dual-mode guidance (INS/GPS + IR seeker) for 99% accuracy against mobile targets like AWACS or bunkers. Its non-ballistic, maneuvering trajectory at 30-40 km altitude evades systems like China’s HQ-19 or Pakistan’s HQ-9B. The September 2025 Chandipur test validated a 20-second scramjet burn, achieving Mach 6.5, with air-launched variants planned for Rafale, Su-30MKI, and Tejas Mk-2 by 2029.

Integration with DRDO’s LODN optical network ensures real-time targeting of stealth assets, while IACCS synergy with S-400 and Project Kusha creates a multi-layered defence-offence ecosystem. The missile’s 30% cost advantage over US AGM-183A enhances export prospects to QUAD allies.

Strategic Impact: LAC and LoC Deterrence

Operation Sindoor’s precision strikes, which sidelined PAF’s F-16s and Erieye AWACS, underscored runway vulnerabilities—exploitable by hypersonic missiles in under 5 minutes from 1,000 km. Pakistan’s underground bases, constrained by a $6 billion debt and 5.8% GDP deficit, cover only 30% of its 450-aircraft fleet, leaving taxiways exposed. Against China, the missile counters DF-17 and J-20 threats, ensuring rapid retaliation without nuclear escalation. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s October 2 Bhuj speech emphasized “swift, decisive capabilities,” signaling hypersonic deterrence. The program creates 12,000 jobs in Hyderabad and Pune, boosting MSMEs and aligning with Tejas Mk-1A inductions (180 jets by 2030) for air-launched synergy. It complements Project Kusha’s 350 km SAM, forming a robust shield-sword strategy.

Challenges and Future Outlook

Scaling scramjet production and integrating air-launched variants remain challenges, with 2026 trials targeting Su-30MKI compatibility. Delays in ceramic composite materials could push timelines, but collaborations with IIT Kanpur and ISRO mitigate risks. By 2030, DRDO plans a hypersonic cruise missile (HCM) variant, enhancing BMD Phase-III against ICBMs. IAF chief A.P. Singh’s Air Force Day remark, “Speed redefines power,” underscores the program’s strategic weight. India’s hypersonic missile program ensures multi-front dominance, deterring adversaries while cementing self-reliance and global defence stature.

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