Latest news with #ET-LDHCM
India.com
2 days ago
- Science
- India.com
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
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.
India.com
2 days ago
- Politics
- India.com
India Tests Unstoppable Nuclear Missile That Renders Iron Dome, S-400 & Patriot Useless — Could Tip Asia's Military Balance Overnight
New Delhi: India did not throw a parade. It did not issue loud threats or theatrical warnings. But somewhere behind heavily guarded fences, the country tested something that could alter how wars are fought in Asia, maybe even far beyond. The missile is called the ET-LDHCM. The name is not catchy, but what it does is something few weapons on the planet can. It hurtles through the atmosphere at eight times the speed of sound (Mach 8). That is around 10,000 to 11,000 km per hour, depending on altitude. And it can reach targets 1,500 km away. It can carry a conventional warhead. Or a nuclear one. The world's attention was elsewhere. Ukraine. Gaza. Taiwan. But quietly, India entered a league so exclusive it could be counted on one hand. A league of nations that can build and fly hypersonic missiles from scratch. Not buy. Build. What's Under the Hood? The missile is not a variant of BrahMos. It is not a cousin of Agni. This is a new animal, grown out of something the Defence Reaserch and Development Organisation (DRDO) has been quietly nurturing under an umbrella called Project Vishnu. At the centre of it is a scramjet engine. A thing that sounds like science fiction but is very much real. Unlike traditional missile engines that carry their own oxidiser (adding weight), scramjets breathe in air. They gulp oxygen as they fly – superheating it, compressing it and turning it into raw thrust. The DRDO tested that engine for 1,000 seconds on the ground in November 2024. The thing roared, burned and did not crack. It withstood 2,000°C temperatures. It proved it could handle real-world conditions that melt most metals. Fast, Smart And Deadly In addition to having speed, the ET-LDHCM is about manoeuvrability. It does not fly in a straight line like a thrown spear. It dances, evades and changes direction mid-air, dodging radars and spoofing interceptors. That is what separates it from regular cruise missiles or ballistic systems. That is what puts it in the hypersonic class. And it is versatile. Land-based launch? Check. Ship-based? Yes. Dropped from a fighter jet? Also yes. Conventional payload? Sure. Nuclear warhead weighing two tonnes? Absolutely. It flies low. It flies fast. It flies smart. That is a nightmare for even the best air defence shields, be it China's HQ-9, Israel's David's Sling or the American Patriot. When and Why Now? The test was about technology and timing. Across the northern hemisphere, things are simmering. Russia is dug into Ukraine. Iran and Israel are circling each other with teeth bared. China is pushing hard in the Indo-Pacific. Pakistan is watching every Indian move like a hawk. India did not need to say anything. The test said it all. Homegrown Muscle There is another layer to this story. The ET-LDHCM is 100% Indian. The missile was not ordered from abroad. No foreign joint venture. No borrowed brains. It was stitched together by Indian scientists, startups, defence firms and labs. From the hypersonic frame to the guidance systems to the heat-resistant coatings, everything was designed and built at home. The coatings that protect the missile from frying in its own heat were co-developed with the Department of Science and Technology. They even work in salty sea conditions, making this missile just as dangerous from a naval destroyer. This is atmanirbharta (self-reliance) with teeth. What Comes Next? The ET-LDHCM is just the beginning. Project Vishnu is expected to deliver a dozen weapon systems. Hypersonic glide vehicles could join the Indian arsenal by 2027 or 2028. Full-scale deployment of the ET-LDHCM could happen by 2030. This is a long game. Strategic Shockwave India now joins a list so short it changes conversations – the United States, Russia and China. Maybe Iran, maybe North Korea. But even among them, few have fully operational scramjet-based cruise missiles. India is staking ground in tomorrow's battlefield. The missile might never be fired in anger. But its existence is a message. One that says, 'We do not only react to threats anymore. We prepare for what comes next.'
Economic Times
3 days ago
- Science
- Economic Times
India testing a missile that flies at eight times the speed of sound, hits targets 1,500 km away
Hypersonic capabilities mark a strategic leap 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 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 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/ 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 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 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 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 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 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.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Why India's new hypersonic missile may outrun Israel's Iron Dome and Russia's S-500 and shift the balance in Asia
India has made a quiet but bold leap in missile technology. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has tested what it calls the country's most advanced missile system to date: the Extended Trajectory Long Duration Hypersonic Cruise Missile ( ET-LDHCM ). Unlike the BrahMos, Agni-5 or Akash, this one goes further and faster. It was built under Project Vishnu , a classified programme meant to develop next-generation hypersonic weapons. Defence officials confirmed the missile can hit targets up to 1,500 km away at Mach 8. By comparison, the original BrahMos started with a range of 290 km. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category Operations Management Design Thinking Data Analytics healthcare MCA Finance Degree Public Policy others Product Management Data Science MBA Cybersecurity Management CXO Data Science Project Management Others Artificial Intelligence Leadership Healthcare Technology PGDM Digital Marketing Skills you'll gain: Quality Management & Lean Six Sigma Analytical Tools Supply Chain Management & Strategies Service Operations Management Duration: 10 Months IIM Lucknow IIML Executive Programme in Strategic Operations Management & Supply Chain Analytics Starts on Jan 27, 2024 Get Details The heart of the missile: Scramjet engine A key part of the ET-LDHCM's power comes from its scramjet engine . Unlike older engines that carry oxidisers on board, the scramjet uses oxygen from the atmosphere. This keeps the missile lighter and lets it maintain high speeds for longer. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Only 2% Traders Know this Powerful Intraday Strategy thefutureuniversity Learn More Undo In November 2024, DRDO ran a 1,000-second ground test of this scramjet, proving it could handle the extreme heat and speed. The missile can withstand temperatures up to 2,000 degrees Celsius, critical when you're tearing through the sky at nearly 11,000 km per hour. Ready for any platform Flexibility is part of the plan. The ET-LDHCM can be launched from land, ships or aircraft. This makes it useful for all branches of India's military. It can carry conventional or nuclear warheads weighing up to 2,000 kg. Because it flies at low altitudes, it stays harder to detect and intercept. Live Events Analysts say the missile's in-flight manoeuvrability is what sets it apart. It can adjust its course mid-air, something that makes life difficult for modern air defence systems. A message beyond borders India's timing is telling. The test comes as the region faces fresh friction. Russia and Ukraine remain locked in conflict. Israel and Iran are trading threats. Relations with China and Pakistan remain tense. Defence analysts suggest this missile could shift power balances in South Asia. It puts India alongside the United States, Russia and China — countries that have already fielded indigenous hypersonic missiles. Project Vishnu: Quiet but ambitious Project Vishnu is DRDO's biggest bet yet on hypersonic systems. It plans to deliver twelve different weapons, from offensive missiles to interceptors that can knock incoming threats out of the sky. In the words of a senior DRDO scientist: 'The first scramjet test in November 2024 ran for 1,000 seconds. That showed the engine could do what we needed.' Missiles like the ET-LDHCM are only the start. Hypersonic glide vehicles are expected to join service by 2027 or 2028. Full operational use of the ET-LDHCM could come by 2030. Made in India, built to last One thing sets this missile apart. It was designed and built entirely with home-grown technology. Small and medium enterprises and private contractors played a key part. This feeds into India's push for self-reliance under its defence manufacturing policy. Materials science has played its part too. Heat-resistant coatings, co-developed by DRDO and the Department of Science and Technology, keep the missile structurally sound in searing conditions. The same coatings protect it against oxidation for naval operations. With the ET-LDHCM, India is saying it's ready for new challenges. It can now match or outpace some of the world's top-tier missile systems. The country cuts reliance on imports, builds local know-how and signals it's not standing still as regional security shifts. As a defence analyst put it: 'This missile could be a tipping point for South Asian military dynamics. Its speed and survivability change the game.' The test flight might have been quiet. Its message is not.
India.com
4 days ago
- Science
- India.com
Deadlier than BrahMos, Agni, and Akash..., India develops missile with Mach 8 speed, even S-500 can't stop it..., it is...
Deadlier than BrahMos, Agni, and Akash... India develops missile with Mach 8 speed, even S-500 can't stop it… it is… ET-LDHCM Missile: In recent years, India has proved its prowess in the defence sector by developing several lethal weapons. Having Pakistan and China as its neighbours, the country is continuously improving its weaponry to defend itself from future warfare. India is not only strengthening itself but has also emerged as a leading defence weapons supplier in the world. New Delhi has again surprised the world by developing a hypersonic missile which has a speed and strike capability more than the lethal BrahMos. Not only BrahMos, but the missile is faster than Indian missile systems – Agni and Akash as well. The Extended Trajectory Long Duration Hypersonic Cruise Missile (ET-LDHCM) is capable of flying at a superfast speed of Mach 8, which is eight times faster than the speed of sound, and can hit the target up to 1,500 km away. Which Company Developed The ET-LDHCM Missile? The ET-LDHCM missile has been developed by DRDO under India's visionary project called – 'Project Vishnu'. Indian Space Agency ISRO has played a crucial part in the development of the missile. The ET-LDHCM is considered to be India's most advanced strategic missile till date. Is ET-LDHCM India's New Brahmastra? The ET-LDHCM missile is undoubtedly a leap in India's defence technology. The missile is equipped with a famous scramjet engine, which works without the conventional rotating compressor and uses atmospheric oxygen. This technology gives the missile a speed of Mach 8, which is three times the Mach-3 speed (3,675 km/h) of BrahMos. We have all seen how BrahMos missiles entered Pakistan and destroyed targets, dodging its China-made defence systems. So, imagine a missile which is faster and more lethal than BrahMos. Most of the defence systems are useless to track and destroy a missile that travels at that high speed. India's ET-LDHCM missile has a range of 1,500 km, majorly exceeding the BrahMos missile's previous high range 450 km (initially 290 km). This makes the ET-LDHCM India's longest-range and fastest missile currently. Is This The Weapon That Can Puts Enemies To Sleep? ET-LDHCM missile is capable of carrying conventional or nuclear weapons weighing around 1,000 to 2,000 kg. It flies at low altitude, making it difficult to detect by any powerful radar. The missile can change its direction during flight even after having a Mach 8 speed, making it highly effective in the battlefield. During hypersonic speed heat plays a critical part and ET-LDHCM missile is capable of withstanding temperatures up to 2,000 degrees Celsius, ensuring stability and accuracy, Is ET-LDHCM A Tri-Platform Launch-Capable Missile? Yes, the ET-LDHCM can be launched from land, sea and air. Because of this, the missile can target almost everything which comes in its range. it can also poses a challenge to advanced defence shields like Israel's Iron Dome. Powers Like Russia, America, China India has tested ET-LDHCM at a time when global and regional tensions are at their peak. Amid the Israel-Iran conflict, the Russia-Ukraine war and the tense relations between India and Pakistan, the Indian armed forces are continuously strengthening itself. It is worth noting that ET-LDHCM's successful test brings India into the league of select countries like Russia, the US and China that possess indigenous hypersonic missile technology.
