India is ramping up its hypersonic weapons development programme, as in an another crucial milestone, the state-run Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on January 21, 2025, announced that it had conducted a successful 120-second ground test of a combustor using scramjet propulsion technology, described as a “key to air-breathing engines capable of sustaining combustion at supersonic speeds without using any moving parts” and developed thermal barrier coating, “designed to withstand extreme temperatures”, ensuring exceptional durability and performance during extended hypersonic flight.
The ground test is part of India’s effort to develop long-duration hypersonic missiles powered by scramjet technology, aiming to overcome existing technological challenges. These advancements are poised to revolutionize hypersonic missile capabilities through groundbreaking innovations. Unlike traditional engines, the scramjet engine uses atmospheric air for fuel combustion, eliminating the requirement for onboard oxygen tanks. This design feature not only decreases weight but also improves the operational readiness and efficiency of hypersonic missiles.
In the ever-evolving modern-warfare, Hypersonic weapons; typically categorized as hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) and hypersonic cruise missile (HCM) have emerged as the critical factors in defining military supremacy as these weapons believed to possess exceptional qualities that are poised to give strategic edge, such as — can travel five times or even faster than the speed of sound, carry conventional or nuclear warheads, and the capacity to strike long-range targets with unpredictable trajectory shifts. Their unparalleled maneuverability makes them incredibly difficult to detect and intercept, significantly reducing an adversary’s decision-making time in the event of an attack.
As a result, the major world powers are now intensifying their efforts to develop and deploy hypersonic stockpiles, potentially setting off a new arms race in the 21st century. Recent events, such as Russia’s reported use of the hypersonic Oreshnik missile against Ukraine, the successful trial of a hypersonic weapon by the USA in the Pacific, North Korea’s recent test-firing of a hypersonic missile, and Japan’s testing of a hyper-velocity gliding projectile, all contribute to this trend.
China is widely recognized as the global leader in terms of developing, testing and demonstrating hypersonic missiles. However, its burgeoning hypersonic weapons build-up is a cause of concern due to its secretive and opaque nature. Chinese strategic leaders view such weapons as a crucial and integral part of their regional war-fighting strategies, global power projection capabilities, and as an effective strategic deterrent against the US.
Several leaked military documents have revealed that, over the years, China has heavily invested in the development of hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV)-powered missiles, such as the operational DF-17– medium-range ballistic missile, DF-41– intercontinental-ballistic missiles, DF-27– intermediate-range ballistic missiles with “dual-capabilities” (can carry both conventional or nuclear payloads), the Starry Sky-2, considered to be a hypersonic cruise nuclear-prototype.
Recently, it reportedly conducted the final heat resistant testing of its newly developed advanced hypersonic air-to-air missile, setting the alarm bell ringing for its adversaries.
India embarked on its hypersonic journey in 2007 when then President Dr. Kalam first proposed the development of advanced Mark-II BrahMos-cruise missiles using hypersonic technology. Over the years, the DRDO has actively contributed to the development of hypersonic technology and successfully conducted several trials, including flight test and inauguration of the hypersonic technology demonstrator vehicle and hypersonic wind tunnel facility, (which has completed 1,000 successful tests already) respectively, in 2020 and a long-range hypersonic missile test on November 16th, 2024, along with hypersonic Brahmos II development on the cards and plans to achieve fully operational hypersonic weaponry by the mid-2030s.
India’s pursuit of developing hypersonic weapons is the culmination of two key objectives. Firstly, It is aimed at diversifying, modernizing, and strengthening its defense capabilities and strategic-posture, particularly intended towards China, with whom it shared a long-history of disputes, and security concerns from multiple fronts, and this intention is clearly evident in its trial on November 16th, occurred shortly after China’s display of its GDF-600, an advanced HGV, at the Zhuhai airshow in 2024. This demonstrates India’s increasing strategic maturity in addressing evolving security challenges in its backyards and maintaining an effective counterbalance against China.
Secondly, developing these advanced weapons aligns with India’s broader ambition of establishing itself as a major global power, equipping its military with cutting-edge technology that not only strengthens its deterrence capabilities but also enhances its strategic prestige on the world stage.
However, it is important to note that, India’s ongoing advancements in hypersonic technology comes at a critical juncture amid an increasingly complex and tense security environment in South Asia and beyond. Given the global geopolitical shifts, particularly in the wake of Trump’s return to power, India’s developments underscore the need for a deeper strategic reckoning.
In the South Asian context, India’s expanding hypersonic capabilities are likely to intensify the emerging India-China hypersonic arms race and could potentially draw Pakistan into the equation. Although India is still in its early stages, the development of such weapons could provide it with a significant strategic advantage, potentially altering the regional balance in its favor. This shift would heighten Pakistan’s urgency to develop countermeasures to maintain its strategic parity with India.
Although Pakistan currently lacks an indigenous hypersonic weapons program, its historical military bonhomie with China make it highly likely that it will seek technological assistance from China to develop its own capabilities. This possibility has further intensified, with experts suggesting that China could potentially equip Pakistan with hypersonic weapons capable of bypassing India’s advanced S-400 air-defense system, which it acquired from Russia.
Further, recent social media claims of having hypersonic capable missile by the Pakistan Air Force and then outgoing naval chief of Pakistan revealed plans to develop the P282-hypersonic missile, as part of their efforts to counter perceived threats from India. If these speculations materialize, it could significantly disrupt the regional deterrence balance, forcing India to undergo a ‘two-front strategic recalibration’.
Another factor influencing the security landscape is the return of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency. Given his previous defense policies, it is conceivable that he would advocate for a more aggressive military posture, prioritizing advancements in hypersonic capabilities. His earlier term, where he proposed a $3.2 billion budget allocation; a 23% increase for hypersonic weapons research and development from previous years, emphasized the need for the United States to surpass China and Russia in this domain, where it has historically lagged.
Currently, the United States is engaged in multiple hypersonic weapons programs, from Long-range hypersonic weapons (LRHW) to recently partnered with Australia and the United Kingdom in a project called the Hypersonic Flight Test and Experimentation Project Arrangement, which is to enhance testing of hypersonic vehicles and accelerate the implementation of related technologies.
The Trump administration would likely fast-track these programs, thus significantly expanding the U.S.’s hypersonic capabilities and reinforcing its military advantage. His recent interview with Fox news, where he asserted that the U.S would soon process a “super hypersonic missile”, describing it as “one step better” and the recent executing mandate for developing the “iron dome of America”, suggests a shift towards what is called ‘perpetual-confrontation’, with China and Russia, reminiscent of the Cold War-era arms race.
Given the absence of international regulating measures, coupled with Trump’s assertive policies, both China and Russia could intensify their counter-development efforts, leading to next-generation hypersonic systems with even greater sophistication. As a result, India could face significant spillover effects with an accelerated global hypersonic race and heightened regional tensions in South Asia, necessitating a carefully calibrated tactical strategy to guide its hypersonic ambition moving forward.
The tactical approach should be prioritizing the attention on the regional security framework keeping in mind competitors like China and Pakistan. This can be done by expediting its indigenous hypersonic development program to bolster competitiveness with China and preparing for Pakistan’s potential acquisition of hypersonic technologies in coming years. Additionally, India must develop cost-effective countermeasures, including next-generation solid-state directed-energy weapons, particle beams, and accelerating the implementation of advanced hypersonic defense in its ongoing Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) programme.
Finally, India must closely monitor the technological advancements in US hypersonic developments and defense programmes under the Trump administration. Evaluating their implications for the broader Indo-Pacific security framework will be crucial in shaping India’s strategic posture and ensuring its preparedness regarding the emerging hypersonic landscape.
Moreover, India should engage in bilateral talks with its key strategic allies to discuss shared priorities in hypersonic technologies and strengthen information sharing. The next Quad leaders summit in India would serve as a valuable platform to address the Chinese dominance in the hypersonic domain and foster high-level dialogue on counter-strategies.
In light of the reshaping of modern warfare by these weapons, India must strike a balance between technological progress with strategic prudence. Ensuring a carefully planned strategy will be crucial for India in navigating the complexities of this rapidly evolving hypersonic arms race.
[Header image: Launch of HSTDV cruise vehicle. Credit: DRDO, via Wikimedia Commons]
Mahesh Ganguly is a junior research fellow in Defence, Strategic Studies and International Relations at MMAJ Academy of International Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi.
Hadi Raza is pursuing a master’s from MMAJ Academy of International Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors.
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