Hypersonic Missile Technology

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After years of R&D, India recently conducted a successful test flight of the indigenously developed Hypersonic technology demonstrator vehicle (HSTDV), powered by a scramjet engine, which will serve as a critical building block for next-generation Hypersonic cruise missiles, joining the elite club of the US, Russia and China who possess such technology. Hypersonic missiles that fly at lower altitudes and are very onerous to trace and intercept. Currently, the United States, Russia and China have only developed technologies to field fast-manoeuvring of it. This is often seen as India’s initial footstep towards developing Hypersonic missiles. It is in this context, Let’s make an in-depth analysis of Hypersonic missile technology.