New Delhi: India is on the brink of a major defence milestone with the imminent debut of an indigenously developed hypersonic missile capable of reaching speeds of Mach 5, revealed Dr. Sudhir Kumar Mishra, former Director General of DRDO and current DRDO Chair.
Speaking at the Powering Bharat Summit, hosted by Network18 and its media platforms, Dr. Mishra confirmed that successful tests of a hypersonic engine were completed just weeks ago. “We will soon unveil a hypersonic missile,” he said, highlighting that all core technologies, including those used in BrahMos, were developed entirely by DRDO.
Calling BrahMos a “potent universal weapon,” Mishra noted its unmatched reliability, backed by over 130 successful tests. He emphasized that DRDO prioritizes performance over cost, choosing top-quality technical bids over the lowest price.
Other defence experts on the summit’s panel, Defending Bharat, echoed India’s growing prowess. Lt Gen (Dr) Inderjit Singh of ideaForge Technology hailed India’s leadership in drone-based ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance), while Smit Shah, President of the Drone Federation of India, credited policy reforms since 2021 for rapid growth in the drone sector.
Despite optimism, Mishra cautioned investors to temper expectations, stressing that real defence R&D takes a decade or more. He also urged consolidation in the fragmented defence manufacturing sector, warning that only a fraction of today’s 400 drone firms may survive long term.
