Indian Missile Tests Show Urgency

By test-firing as many as 12 missiles in last two months, India is now matching China missile by missile and is closing the technology gap, argues NINAD D SHETH

- Ninad D Sheth

Russia ushered in a new phase of warfare with a weapon that absolutely changes the rules of engagement. Through the Avangard hypersonic missile system, a nuclear-capable missile that can travel more than 20 times the speed of sound (Mach-20). The unique killer ability of this kind of missile system is in the speed and the glide system that affords far greater maneuverability and both together make them almost impossible to defend against.

Missiles along with drones are on the new frontiers of warfare. India too has been very busy with its own series of missile tests especially as the confrontation with China on the eastern front shows no signs of easing. India has tested 12 different missiles in the last two months with just one fail.

The most important test of these missiles were in September when India tested the hypersonic vehicle. The vehicle is powered by a supersonic combustion ramjet, or scramjet engine after being launched by a solid-fueled ballistic missile rocket motor. The test vehicle flew at an altitude of 30 kilometers at six times the speed of sound for about 20 seconds after separating from the launcher, according to reports from the Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), which developed the system.

DRDO Chief G. Satheesh Reddy said that the “test met all technical parameters,” given the high indigenous content and the past mastery on the ballistic stage it is estimated that the missile will be forthcoming as a deployable weapon within five to seven years.