ndia’s first long-range hypersonic missile

Tags: Defence

India’s first long-range hypersonic missile 

Why in news?

• Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted a successful flight-trial of India’s first long-range hypersonic missile from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha late on November 16, 2024. 

About Hypersonic missiles:

• Hypersonic missiles combinespeeds of over five times the speed of sound with significant manoeuvrability during flight.
• Their manoeuvrability enables them to change trajectory during flight, making their flight-path and target difficult to predict.
• They fly at lower altitudes than ballistic missiles, which means that they may be harder to track at long distances with some surface-based sensors, such as certain radar.
• There aretwo main types of hypersonic missile: hypersonic glide vehicles (HGVs) and hypersonic cruise missiles (HCMs).

Developed by:

• This missile has been indigenously developed by the laboratories of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Missile complex, Hyderabad along with various other DRDO laboratories and Industry Partners. 
• This hypersonic missile is designed to carry various payloads for ranges greater than 1,500 kms for the Armed Forces.

About DRDO:

• DRDO is the R&D wing of Ministry of Defence, Govt of India,with a vision to empower India with cutting-edge defence technologies and a mission to achieve self-reliance in critical defence technologies and systems.
• DRDO was formed in 1958 from the amalgamation of the then already functioning Technical Development Establishment (TDEs) of the Indian Army and the Directorate of Technical Development & Production (DTDP) with the Defence Science Organisation (DSO)
• "Balasya Mulam Vigyanam"—the source of strength is science-drives the nation in peace and war.