Modern-day Brahmastra? How hypersonic missiles could change the rules of war
Operation Sindoor demonstrated how a supersonic weapon flying at a speed of nearly Mach 3 (3,700 kmph), or five times the speed of sound, is nearly impossible to stop. A missile flying at low level would be detected by a ground-based radar at a distance of 15 km and, at Mach 3, this would provide an early warning of around 15 seconds to impact.This compresses the decision cycle of an air defence commander. A hypersonic weapon flying at speeds of over Mach 5 (6,100 kmph) will be virtually unstoppable with current technology, as a surface-hugging missile will cover the same distance in less than 9 seconds, thus further reducing the time available for the ground crew.
What makes hypersonic weapons different?
With the vast majority of surface-to-air missiles flying at a speed of under Mach 5, very few missile systems would be able to intercept a hypersonic weapon system from the hind quarters.Hypersonic warfare represents the next great transformation in military technology, a development that promises to reshape deterrence, escalation, and the survivability of strategic assets. Their speed, manoeuvrability, and ability to evade defences make them virtually unstoppable, ensuring that nations which master them will dictate the terms of deterrence while those that lag will face strategic vulnerability.
Hypersonic weapons are defined as systems that travel at speeds above Mach 5. They fall into two broad categories. The first are hypersonic glide vehicles, which are boosted by rockets to high altitudes and then glide at hypersonic speeds while manoeuvring unpredictably. The second are hypersonic cruise missiles, powered by advanced engines such as scramjets, flying within the atmosphere at sustained hypersonic speeds. Unlike ballistic missiles, which follow predictable arcs, hypersonic weapons can change course mid-flight and fly at lower altitudes, thus exploiting the radar horizon. Their combination of speed and manoeuvrability makes interception nearly impossible with current missile defence systems.
The technological challenges
Developing hypersonic weapons, however, is fraught with challenges. At Mach 5 and above, vehicles face extreme thermal loads requiring advanced cooling systems. Scramjet combustion stability is notoriously difficult to sustain at hypersonic speeds, as airflow must remain supersonic through the engine while fuel burns efficiently. Guidance systems face plasma interference, as the sheath of ionised air, known as plasma, around the vehicle disrupts communications and sensors. Materials must withstand immense stress and heat without structural failure, demanding breakthroughs in composites and alloys.
There are also challenges of flying at very high speeds at lower altitudes where air is thicker, which requires additional power. Testing infrastructure is scarce and costly, with hypersonic wind tunnels and flight ranges limited to a very small group of nations. Integration with warheads and payloads requires compact designs that can survive hypersonic stresses. Launch platforms must handle enormous acceleration and aerodynamic forces.
India’s hypersonic journey
India has steadily advanced from supersonic to hypersonic systems. Operation Sindoor in 2025 demonstrated the lethality of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, proving that speed alone can overwhelm defences. Building on this, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) achieved a landmark by testing an actively cooled, full-scale scramjet combustor for 20 minutes setting a new global benchmark. This achievement demonstrated mastery over thermal management, a critical barrier in hypersonic propulsion, and positioned India among a select group of nations with indigenous hypersonic capability.India’s projects include the Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle, a scramjet testbed that achieved Mach 6 flight, and the BrahMos-II, a planned hypersonic cruise missile expected to reach speeds of Mach 7 and extend India’s naval strike reach. Other concepts include the Dhvani glide vehicle for long-range deterrence, the LR-AShM designed to neutralise enemy ships including aircraft carriers, and the ET-LDHCM, an extended trajectory hypersonic cruise missile for precision land attack.
The United States’ hypersonic programmes
The United States has invested heavily in hypersonic research, recognising the strategic threat posed by Russian and Chinese deployments. Key programmes include the AGM-183 Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon, a boost-glide system tested by the US Air Force; the Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept, a scramjet-powered cruise missile tested successfully under DARPA supervision; and the Conventional Prompt Strike programme, a hypersonic glide vehicle designed for the US Navy to enable global precision strikes. The US approach emphasises redundancy across air-breathing and boost-glide systems, ensuring multiple pathways to deployment. Challenges remain in thermal management, guidance, and cost.
China’s operational advantage
China has already fielded operational systems, notably the DF-17 missile equipped with the DF-ZF glide vehicle. This system has been demonstrated at the National Day Parade. Capable of speeds between Mach 5 and 10, the DF-17 is designed to penetrate US and allied missile defences in the Indo-Pacific. Its manoeuvrability and precision make it a formidable tool for both deterrence and coercion.China also conducted an orbital hypersonic test in 2021, demonstrating global reach and shocking US analysts. Beyond these, China is investing in scramjet research, hypersonic wind tunnels, and reusable spaceplanes, indicating a comprehensive approach to hypersonic technology. Strategically, China views hypersonics as a means to offset US superiority.
Russia: The pioneer in operational deployment
Russia remains the pioneer in operational hypersonic weapons. The Kinzhal missile, air-launched and capable of Mach 10, has been combat-tested in Ukraine. The Tsirkon cruise missile, ship-launched and capable of Mach 8, is designed for anti-ship and land-attack roles. Russia’s operational deployment reshapes deterrence, forcing adversaries to accept vulnerability and demonstrating that hypersonic warfare is not a future concept but a present reality.
Other nations in the race
France is developing the Véhicule Manoeuvrant Experimental, or V-MaX, a hypersonic glide vehicle expected to test in the mid-2020s. It supports France’s nuclear deterrence posture and signals Europe’s entry into hypersonic development.Australia, in partnership with the United States, is pursuing the Southern Cross Integrated Flight Research Experiment, a scramjet programme targeting operational systems by the late 2020s. This reflects Canberra’s intent to strengthen deterrence in the Indo-Pacific. Japan’s Hyper Velocity Gliding Projectile is designed to defend remote islands, with deployment planned by 2030, underscoring Tokyo’s recognition of hypersonic weapons as essential for regional security.
The next arms race
It is very likely that the deployment of such weapons will result in a new arms race. Moreover, the deployment of hypersonic weapons is likely to bring in a new revolution in air defence systems, with nations relying on space-based assets to get ‘beyond the horizon’ early warning to defend against these superfast weapons. India is working to produce its own air and ballistic missile shield called Sudarshan Chakra, as was announced by Prime Minister Modi from the ramparts of the Red Fort in Delhi during the Independence Day address. This system too will use inputs from space-based assets. Thus, a key cat-and-mouse contest between effectors and counter-effectors has already begun.
A modern-day Brahmastra?
India’s scramjet breakthrough and suite of indigenous projects mark its entry into the elite hypersonic club. The United States, China, Russia, France, Australia, Japan and even North Korea are pursuing hypersonic weapons, ensuring that the future battlefield will be dominated by unstoppable weapons. Hypersonic weapons are not a distant prospect but an unfolding reality. Defined by speeds above Mach 5 and manoeuvrability that are currently impossible to intercept through existing means.Developing these weapons is fraught with multiple challenges that test a nation’s edge in aeronautics, propulsion technology, material science and a host of other areas. All this effort is aimed at ensuring that a nation has the ability to deploy an undefeatable weapon, a modern-day Brahmastra, with the aim of ensuring peace through deterrence.
