The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted the flight trial of India’s first long-range hypersonic missile from Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Island, off the coast of Odisha
Hypersonic Missiles
- These missiles can fly at speeds of at least Mach 5 (five times the speed of sound).
- The speed of sound is Mach 1, and speeds between Mach 1 and Mach 5 are supersonic and speeds above Mach 5 are
- Hypersonic weapons can manoeuvre midway which when combined with their high speeds makes their detection and interception extremely difficult.
Types of Missiles in India
India’s missile arsenal is diverse, designed to meet various strategic needs. Major types include:
- Ballistic Missiles:
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- Agni Series: Ranges from short to intercontinental (700–5,000+ km), primarily nuclear-capable.
- Prithvi Series: Short-range (150–350 km), used for tactical, surface-to-surface strikes.
- K Series: Submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM), enhancing second-strike capability.
- Cruise Missiles:
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- BrahMos: Supersonic cruise missile, versatile for land, sea, and air platforms; known for speed and precision.
- Nirbhay: Subsonic, long-range (1,000 km), with terrain-hugging capability to avoid radar.
- Anti-Ballistic Missiles (ABM):
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- Prithvi Air Defence (PAD): Designed to intercept high-altitude ballistic missiles.
- Advanced Air Defence (AAD): Meant for lower-altitude intercepts, forming a two-tier defense shield.
- Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAM):
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- Akash: Medium-range (up to 30 km), designed to target aerial threats.
- Barak-8: Jointly developed with Israel; capable of intercepting various aerial threats, including aircraft and missiles.
- Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGM):
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- Nag: Designed to destroy armored targets, with variants like helicopter-launched (HELINA).
- MPATGM: Man-portable, short-range missile, providing flexibility for infantry use.
- Tactical Missiles:
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- Shaurya: Hypersonic, nuclear-capable missile, designed for high-speed, low radar signature.
- Prahaar: Quick-reaction, short-range missile system for battlefield support.
These missiles enhance India’s strategic defense across land, air, sea, and undersea domains, ensuring robust, multi-tiered deterrence and protection.
