India Develops Brahmos Missile, Boosts Defense Capabilities
The ET-LDHCM hypersonic missile, developed under Project Vishnu, boasts key features such as a range of 1500 km, scramjet engine, and pinpoint accuracy, making it an ideal asset for targeting enemy radar systems, command centres, warships, and bunkers, and is set to undergo live air trials after successful ground testing.
India is enhancing its defense capabilities with indigenous technologies, including the development of hypersonic missiles, long-range air defense systems, and next-generation fighter aircraft, with the BrahMos missile being upgraded to a smaller, more versatile variant, BrahMos-NG.
The DRDO is working on two types of hypersonic weapons: a cruise missile and a glide vehicle, with the glide vehicle project at an advanced stage, expecting completion of developmental trials in two to three years. The hypersonic cruise missile has already undergone successful scramjet propulsion testing for 1,000 seconds, but full-scale development awaits government approval. The DRDO is also upgrading the Astra air-to-air missile and developing air-to-ground missiles, including Rudram-2, Rudram-3, and Rudram-4.
The Kusha programme is developing long-range surface-to-air missiles to match capabilities like the Russian S-400, while the DRDO is also working on directed energy weapons, including high-powered lasers and microwave systems, to neutralize drones and other aerial threats. The Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) is being adapted into a mobile version, and the light tank project, Zorawar, is expected to see 354 units inducted by the Indian Army.
India's response to China's J-35 stealth aircraft is the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), which received formal sanction in 2024 and is expected to be ready by 2035. The DRDO is also focusing on self-reliance and autonomous systems that can operate without external support, citing lessons from recent operations. Furthermore, India is set to test its most advanced indigenously developed hypersonic missile, the Extended Trajectory-Long Duration Hypersonic Cruise Missile (ET-LDHCM), which can strike enemy targets at a range of 1500 km with a top speed of Mach 8 (11,000 km/h).
The development of these indigenous defense technologies is expected to significantly enhance India's military capabilities, providing a strategic advantage in the region and countering challenges from neighboring countries. With a focus on self-reliance and autonomous systems, India is poised to become a major player in the global defense industry.