Why India’s hypersonic missile test is a strategic game-changer

India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted a test-firing of the country’s first hypersonic missile yesterday. The test – which took place on Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha – marked a step forward for India’s military capabilities.

Hypersonic missiles travel at speeds equivalent or above five times the speed of sound. These missiles are also more maneuverable, which allows them to more easily evade air defence systems. For the last few years, countries like the United States and China have rushed to develop this technology.

India Today Global sat down with Lt. Gen. (Retd) P R Shankar to understand the implications of the test. Lt. Gen. Shankar previously served as Director-General of Artillery in the Indian Army and is currently associated with the Aerospace Department at IIT Madras. As a young officer, he was involved with India’s Agni and Prithvi missile programs.

Lt. Gen. Shankar explained that the successful hypersonic missile test matters for a few key reasons. First, it puts India in a small league of countries with the capability to develop these missiles indigenously. This achievement places India among a select group of nations—alongside the United States, Russia, and China—that possess advanced hypersonic technology.

Second, the test also matters in the broader context of India’s strategic environment. China has emerged as a significant military power in Asia and has made substantial advancements in the development of hypersonic missiles. India’s development of hypersonic missiles will provide an effective deterrent to China and Pakistan.