India Enters “Hypersonic Regime” With Successful Flight Test

by Abbas Adil

The first successful test of a Hypersonic Technology Demonstration Vehicle or HSTDV –which can be  used for futuristic missile system and aircraft — was conducted today from the coast of Odisha. So far, Russia, China and the US have been developing hypersonic test vehicles. A hypersonic cruise missile, if developed, can defeat any Chinese defensive system, scientists said.

Defence research organisation DRDO, which conducted today’s test, called it a “historic mission”, which was “a giant leap in indigenous defence technologies and significant milestone” towards a Self-Reliant and Empowered India.

With this mission, DRDO said it has “demonstrated capabilities for highly complex technology that will serve as the building block for NextGen Hypersonic vehicles in partnership with industry”.

Defence minister Rajnath Singh tweeted the video of the launch.Hypersonic technology deals with movement at least five times the speed of sound, termed Mach 1.

Hypersonic speed is generally accepted to be Mach 5, or 3,836.35 miles per hour in conditions of 20 degrees Celsius at sea level. The conditions are important since the speed of sound can vary according to temperature and height.

The Indian hypersonic test vehicle flies six times the speed of sound, the DRDO said.

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