Why in News?
- South Korea conducted its first test-firing of an indigenously developed hypersonic missile, featuring a manoeuvrable Hypersonic Glide Vehicle (HGV).
- The test came amid heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula, just days after North Korea tested an intermediate-range hypersonic missile.
- The move signals South Korea's entry into the select group of countries fielding or testing hypersonic strike systems.
What are Hypersonic Missiles?
- A weapon that travels through the atmosphere at Mach 5 or greater (five times the speed of sound) while retaining the ability to make significant, guided manoeuvres in flight.
- Unlike pure ballistic missiles, their unpredictable flight paths drastically reduce warning time and complicate interception.
Two Major Categories
| Feature | Hypersonic Glide Vehicle (HGV) | Hypersonic Cruise Missile (HCM) |
|---|---|---|
| Propulsion | Rocket gives initial acceleration; vehicle then glides without sustained engine propulsion | Air-breathing engine, typically a scramjet (supersonic combustion ramjet), sustains powered flight |
| Flight Pattern | Separates from booster and manoeuvres through the atmosphere towards the target | Maintains powered, manoeuvrable flight within the atmosphere |
How do Hypersonic Missiles Differ from Ballistic Missiles?
| Feature | Hypersonic Glide/Cruise Missile | Ballistic Missile |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Nature | Designed for hypersonic speed with manoeuvrable glide/cruise trajectory | Follows a ballistic trajectory after the powered boost phase |
| Speed | Mach 5 or above | Can also attain hypersonic speeds, especially mid-course and during re-entry |
| Trajectory | Low-altitude, manoeuvrable flight path | Largely predictable, governed by gravity and initial velocity |
| Flight Path | Designed to manoeuvre within the atmosphere | Travels through atmosphere and into space before re-entry |
| Predictability | Manoeuvrability makes trajectory hard to predict | Trajectory generally easier to compute once established |
| Detection & Interception | Lower flight paths and manoeuvrability reduce warning time and complicate interception | Higher flight paths may allow earlier detection depending on radar coverage |
| Key Advantage | Hypersonic speed + manoeuvrability + unpredictable path | Long-range strike capability with substantial payloads |
| Examples | Russia's Avangard | India's Agni-V; US Minuteman III |
India's Key Hypersonic Milestones
- DRDO is developing hypersonic weapons along two technology tracks: HGVs and scramjet-powered hypersonic cruise missiles.
- LR-AShM (Long Range Anti-Ship Missile): A shore-based maritime strike system with a rocket booster and hypersonic glide phase, designed to target enemy warships.
- ET-LDHCM (Extended Trajectory–Long Duration Hypersonic Cruise Missile): Being developed under Project Vishnu; scramjet-powered, aims at speeds exceeding Mach 8.
- Scramjet Propulsion Breakthrough: DRDO demonstrated a full-scale, actively cooled scramjet combustor, advancing sustained hypersonic propulsion technology.
- BrahMos-II: A planned hypersonic cruise missile intended to reach approximately Mach 7.
- HSTDV (Hypersonic Technology Demonstration Vehicle): A DRDO scramjet-powered demonstrator that achieved roughly Mach 6.
- 16 November 2024: DRDO successfully tested an indigenous long-range hypersonic missile with a range exceeding 1,500 km.
Major Hypersonic Weapons Programmes Worldwide
| Country | Programme/Weapon |
|---|---|
| USA | AGM-183, Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept (HAWC), Conventional Prompt Strike missile |
| China | DF-17 with DF-ZF glide vehicle; orbital hypersonic system |
| Russia | Kinzhal and Tsirkon |
| France | V-MaX |
| Australia–US | Southern Cross |
| Japan | Glide projectile |
| South Korea | Indigenous hypersonic missile with HGV (first test-fired) |
Significance for India
- Deterrence & Strategic Stability: Hypersonic systems complicate adversary missile-defence calculations and strengthen credible minimum deterrence.
- Indigenous Defence Capability: DRDO's HGV and scramjet programmes align with Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence manufacturing.
- Maritime Security: Systems like LR-AShM enhance anti-ship and sea-denial capabilities in the Indo-Pacific.
- Technology Spin-offs: Scramjet and high-temperature materials research benefits aerospace and space launch technologies.
- Arms Race Concerns: Proliferation of hypersonic technology may erode strategic stability and strain existing arms-control frameworks.
Constitutional/Legal & Institutional Context
- Defence research and procurement are executive functions under the Union List (Entry 1 – Defence of India and armed forces) in the Seventh Schedule.
- India is a signatory to the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) since 2016, which guides export controls on missiles capable of delivering weapons of mass destruction.
Way Forward
- Accelerate indigenous scramjet and HGV maturation with repeated flight tests.
- Invest in counter-hypersonic detection and interception (space-based sensors, advanced radars, directed-energy options).
- Strengthen strategic dialogue with partners on hypersonic arms control and crisis stability.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Minimum speed of a hypersonic missile? Mach 5, i.e., five times the local speed of sound.
- Difference between HGV and hypersonic cruise missile? HGVs glide after rocket boost; HCMs use sustained propulsion, typically scramjets.
- What is Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation (KMPR)? South Korea's military strategy aimed at retaliating against major North Korean attacks.
- When did India first test its indigenous long-range hypersonic missile? DRDO tested it on 16 November 2024, with a range exceeding 1,500 km.
- What is India's HSTDV? A DRDO-developed scramjet-powered technology demonstrator that achieved approximately Mach 6.