India with its maiden test of a “Long-range Hypersonic Missile” has introduced a technology in the region that will have serious implications for the strategic stability in South Asia and beyond.   The test was conducted from the test site off the coast of Odisha, on 16 November 2024. The missile, capable of carrying a variety of warheads, is reported to have a range greater than 1500 km, which actually places it in the Intermediate-range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) category. This test was conducted on the heels of India’s maiden test of Long-Range Land-Attack Cruise Missile (LRLACM) on 12 November 2024.

The statement released by Indian Ministry of Defence claimed that the missile conducted successful terminal maneuvers and exhibited high degree of accuracy. The reported terminal maneuvering of the hypersonic missile before impacting the target is an indication that the missile carried an inflight maneuverable Hypersonic Glide Vehicle (HGV) as its standard payload. Reportedly the missile is primarily designed to be used as an antiship missile like the Brahmos Supersonic Antiship Cruise Missile. However, its use in land-attack mode cannot be ruled out.  

The hypersonic missile test received extensive coverage in international media and Social Media platforms. However, no major power including the US, Russia and China made any official comment on this missile test. If this test was indeed successful as claimed, it puts India in league with Russia and China, the only other countries with demonstrated capability to successfully develop HGV. The US and other western powers are still struggling to field a hypersonic missile, let alone a HGV.

Beyond its performance parameters and announced technical details, this delivery system, if further developed to the point of achieving operational capability in due course of........

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