3X faster than Agni and BrahMos..., India testing a hypersonic missile that flies at 8 times the speed of sound, hits targets 1500 km away
India reportedly tested a new high-speed missile that can travel up to eight times the speed of sound (Mach 8) between July 14 and 16, 2025. The test was said to be successful and is part of a project called Project Vishnu. This project is being led by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and is focused on creating a special kind of missile called the Extended Trajectory-Long Duration Hypersonic Cruise Missile (ET-LDHCM).
This missile is designed to fly extremely fast, avoid radar detection, and be launched from different types of platforms like ships, planes, or land bases. It doesn't just outperform existing defence systems like BrahMos, Agni-5, and Akash but changes the game entirely.
With this development, India joins a small group of powerful countries, including the United States, China, and Russia, that are working on or already have hypersonic weapons. Key features of ET-LDHCM, Project Vishnu
Project Vishnu is India's bold plan to build a very fast, home-made missile. This missile, called ET-LDHCM, uses the latest technology in materials, engines, and accurate targeting.
Although most of the details are secret, what we do know is that this missile can fly at extremely high speeds—between Mach 8 and Mach 10 (eight times the speed of sound) which is also three times faster than India's current fastest missile, the BrahMos, which flies at Mach 3.
The missile can travel up to 1,500 kilometers, and in some versions, even 2,500 kilometers. One big strength of this missile is its flexibility. It can be launched from the ground, air, or sea.
The heart of this missile is a special scramjet engine built in India. Unlike regular engines, this one uses oxygen from the air instead of carrying heavy fuel tanks. This makes the missile lighter, faster, and more fuel-efficient, allowing it to fly at hypersonic speeds for a longer time.
Because it flies so fast, it can avoid being shot down by most modern air defense systems and can travel long distances very quickly.
The body of the missile is made of strong heat-resistant materials that can survive temperatures as high as 2,000°C caused by air friction at such high speeds. It also has special coatings to protect it from seawater and sunlight.
This missile is also designed to be very hard to detect by enemy radar. It flies low to the ground and can change direction in the middle of flight, making it difficult for enemies to track or to stop.
The ET-LDHCM can carry heavy payloads between 1,000 and 2,000 kilograms. This includes regular explosives or even nuclear warheads.
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