India testing a missile that flies at eight times the speed of sound, hits targets 1,500 km away
Designed for stealth, precision, and flexibility
Live Events
Built for extreme conditions
(You can now subscribe to our
(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel
India has reportedly tested a new hypersonic missile that can travel at eight times the speed of sound and strike targets as far as 1,500 kilometres away. The Extended Trajectory Long Duration Hypersonic Cruise Missile ( ET-LDHCM ), developed under the Defence Research and Development Organisation 's (DRDO) Project Vishnu , significantly outpaces and outdistances the current BrahMos cruise missile.The test comes amid growing global tensions, including the Israel-Iran conflict and worsening India-Pakistan relations. With Turkey increasingly aligning with Pakistan, India is accelerating its defence modernisation. This includes upgrades across the missile programme, such as BrahMos, Agni-5, and Akash systems.The ET-LDHCM is powered by a scramjet engine that uses air-breathing propulsion, relying on atmospheric oxygen rather than a traditional rotating compressor. This allows the missile to reach Mach 8, or roughly 11,000 km/h, compared to BrahMos' Mach 3 speed of about 3,675 km/h.Its range also marks a leap from BrahMos' original 290 km, later extended to around 450 km, to a new capability of 1,500 km. This combination of speed and extended reach enhances India's strategic strike range.The missile can carry a payload of 1,000 to 2,000 kilograms and is designed to deliver both conventional and nuclear warheads. Its low-altitude flight capability helps it avoid radar detection, while its high targeting precision allows it to strike critical infrastructure in difficult terrains.The ET-LDHCM can be launched from land, sea, or air platforms. Its ability to alter its path mid-flight gives it adaptability in dynamic battlefield conditions.The missile is engineered to handle extreme thermal stress, with performance stability maintained at temperatures up to 2,000°C during hypersonic travel. This capability is critical for sustained speed and accuracy.At present, only Russia, the United States, and China have operational hypersonic cruise missile technology . If India's ET-LDHCM test proves successful, it would join this small group of nations with indigenous hypersonic capabilities.India's aim with the ET-LDHCM is to strengthen its deterrence strategy, particularly in relation to Pakistan, while countering China's growing influence in the Indo-Pacific.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
25 minutes ago
- Time of India
Apple's iPhone 17 series to launch in September with a slim surprise in the lineup
What is the iPhone 17 Air and how is it different? Live Events What are the major camera and display upgrades? Performance and chip upgrades FAQs (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Apple is gearing up for a major shake-up with its iPhone 17 lineup, set to be unveiled this September. Fans are expecting the usual four-model release, but leaks suggest that a new model is on the way- a very thin version, which could likely be called the iPhone 17 Air This year's iPhone 17 series is shaping up to be one of the most exciting yet. Important specifications and pricing information for the upcoming iPhones have started to appear online as September draws iPhone 17 Slim or iPhone 17 Air will be a brand-new model that will take the place of the Plus version. Early leaks say that this new phone will be much thinner, only 5.5mm thick, which is a big change from the bulkier designs of the past few iPhone 16 Plus model is expected to be replaced by the iPhone 17 Air. As the name implies, it will have an extremely thin design, measuring only 5.5 mm in thickness. Apple may eliminate the physical SIM slot due to design constraints.A 6.55-inch screen is anticipated, and Apple is rumored to be using a new type of high-energy-density battery cell, which can store more power and take up less space than the traditional phone batteries found in the current generation of high-end phones, as per a report by Deccan the significant redesign of the iPhone 11 Pro in 2019, the camera design of iPhone Pro models has essentially stayed the to the most recent images of leaked iPhone 17 models, the camera module will have a completely new and modern design. They will take up the entire top slot on the back while maintaining the iPhone's comparison to the iPhone 16 Plus, even the iPhone 17 Air will have a different camera design. It will have a long, horizontally aligned capsule with an LED flash on one side and a single primary camera sensor on the the other hand, like the iPhone 16, the standard iPhone 17 model will feature a vertically aligned module with dual-camera sensors and an LED four iPhone 17 models from Apple will have OLED screens with Pro Motion technology. A refresh rate of 120 Hz will also be supported by them. They will also include silicon from the A19 the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max will have more cores in the A19 Pro silicon, the standard iPhone 17 and 17 Air may have watered-down A19 is introducing a slimmer, redesigned look, particularly on the new iPhone 17 Air iPhone 17 series is expected to be released globally in the second week of September.
Time of India
33 minutes ago
- Time of India
Paytm appoints Adani Infra subsidiary as EPC contractor for Noida IT facility
(You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel One 97 Comm., parent company of Paytm , has appointed Manorview Developers , subsidiary of Adani Infrastructure as EPC Contractor for IT/ITES complex in Noida, the company announced on company has appointed the subsidiary for development of its 10-acre (40,000 sq. m) IT/ITES facility in a plot located in Sector 159, Noida. The property was allotted to Paytm's parent company by New Okhla Industrial Development Authority in March Board of One 97 Communications Ltd. approved appointment of Manorview Developers Private Limited (MDPL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Adani Infrastructure & Developers Private Limited, as the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) Contractor for the company earlier proposed a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) with ACE Builders and Promoters Pvt Ltd which could not be proceeded with in line with Noida rules and byelaws.
Economic Times
2 hours ago
- Economic Times
Dixon Technologies Q1 Results: Net profit doubles YoY to Rs 280 crore; revenue soars 95%
Dixon Technologies on Tuesday reported a consolidated net profit of Rs 280.02 crore for the first quarter ended June 2025, surging 100% year-over-year (YoY) compared to a profit of Rs 139.70 crore in the corresponding quarter of last year. ADVERTISEMENT The company said its revenue from operations for the first quarter of FY26 rose 95% YoY to Rs 12,835.66 crore, compared to Rs 6,579.80 crore in the corresponding quarter of FY25. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) for the June quarter stood at Rs 484 crore, up 89% from Rs 256 crore a year earlier. The company's net debt rose to Rs 214 crore at the end of June 2025, compared with Rs 62 crore as of March PAT margin for the quarter stood at 2.2%, an improvement of 10 basis points from 2.1% in the same quarter last shares of the company ended 1% lower at Rs 16,112.20 on the BSE ahead of the earnings announcement. ADVERTISEMENT The stock has risen 4.7% so far in 2025 and has rallied 7.6% in the last six months. (Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of the Economic Times) ADVERTISEMENT (You can now subscribe to our ETMarkets WhatsApp channel)
