Why in News?
Indian defence news outlets reported in October 2025 that the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is preparing to test a new hypersonic weapon system dubbed Dhvani. The missile, expected to make its debut flight by the end of 2025, will place India alongside the United States, Russia and China in developing hypersonic glide vehicles. Dhvani is anticipated to fly at speeds exceeding Mach 6 and could significantly extend India’s strike capability.
Background
Hypersonic weapons travel at speeds greater than five times the speed of sound (Mach 5) and are highly manoeuvrable. Unlike ballistic missiles, which follow predictable parabolic trajectories, hypersonic glide vehicles (HGVs) are launched on a rocket booster and then detach to skim through the upper atmosphere at very high speeds, executing unpredictable turns. Such weapons are difficult to detect and intercept. India has been working on hypersonic technologies through its Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV) programme, which successfully tested a scramjet engine in 2020.
Features of Dhvani
- Speed and range: Reports suggest that Dhvani could achieve speeds above Mach 6 (around 7,400 km/h) with an estimated strike range between 6,000 and 10,000 kilometres, potentially surpassing the reach of the Agni‑V ballistic missile.
- Boost–glide trajectory: A solid‑fuel rocket booster will propel the vehicle to near‑space altitudes. After booster separation, the glide vehicle will descend into the upper atmosphere and ‘skip’ towards its target, performing sharp maneuvers that confound air‑defence radars.
- Advanced materials and propulsion: Dhvani builds on the HSTDV’s scramjet technology and uses heat‑resistant ceramics and alloys capable of withstanding temperatures above 2,000 °C. Guidance algorithms and control surfaces are designed for high‑speed stability.
- Dual‑role capability: The missile is expected to carry conventional warheads for precision strikes against strategic assets at sea or on land, with the potential for nuclear capability. It may be adaptable for both land‑based and ship‑based launches.
Strategic implications
- Enhanced deterrence: A hypersonic weapon gives India the ability to engage high‑value targets at long range with very little warning time for adversaries. Analysts note that the speed and manoeuvrability of Dhvani would render many existing missile defence systems ineffective.
- Technological advancement: Developing HGVs pushes Indian defence science into cutting‑edge domains of aerodynamics, materials engineering and guidance. Success could spur spin‑offs in space launch and civilian aviation.
- Regional power dynamics: With neighbours investing in similar systems, a credible hypersonic capability is seen as vital for maintaining strategic balance in the Indo‑Pacific region. It underscores India’s shift from importer to innovator in advanced weaponry.
Sources: Beats in Brief; Indian Defence News