India's Hypersonic Future: BrahMos-2 and HSTDV Lead the Way

India is accelerating rapidly towards a future shaped by hypersonic technology. Two crucial programs spearhead this advancement: the BrahMos-2 hypersonic cruise missile and the Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV).

These initiatives exemplify India's determination to master this cutting-edge technology and revolutionize its defence capabilities.

BrahMos-2: A Collaborative Force for Hypersonic Power​

The BrahMos-2, a joint venture between India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia's NPO Mashinostroyeniya, is a next-generation hypersonic cruise missile capable of exceeding speeds of Mach 7 (nearly 8,650 kilometers per hour).

Built upon the success of the supersonic BrahMos missile, BrahMos-2 aims to dramatically increase speed and maneuverability.

The collaboration is developing essential components like durable heat shields, hypersonic flight aerodynamics, and a cutting-edge scramjet engine, allowing the missile to cruise at these astonishing speeds.

With the expected start of prototype testing within five years, the BrahMos-2 carries potential to significantly alter the landscape of modern aerial combat.

HSTDV: Laying the Foundation for India's Hypersonic Ambitions​

India's focus on hypersonics is further emphasized by the Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV). This wholly indigenous undertaking aims to create an unmanned, scramjet-powered hypersonic vehicle.

Weighing in at 1-tonne and measuring 5.6 meters, this technological marvel is designed to attain speeds of Mach 6 (approximately 7,410 kilometers per hour).

The HSTDV plays a pivotal role as a testbed for future hypersonic cruise missile technologies. Successfully demonstrating scramjet-powered hypersonic flight within the upcoming decade, the HSTDV could set the trajectory for India's dominance in the hyperspeed domain.

The Significance of India's Hypersonic Push​

The BrahMos-2 and HSTDV programs embody India's resolve to join the ranks of nations leading the hypersonic technology race. This breakthrough has the potential to redefine warfare, introducing a new generation of missiles with unprecedented speed, maneuverability, and the possibility of hypersonic aircraft.

India's pursuit of hypersonic capabilities is driven by the desire to strengthen its national defence in the face of evolving threats. Additionally, these advancements promise benefits beyond military applications, potentially opening doors to advancements in space exploration and high-speed civilian transport.

 

[Bharat007]

India should demand reward for sticking with Russia during it's difficult times. May be we could get hypersonic tech.😝😆

 

[sanket]

India should demand reward for sticking with Russia during it's difficult times. May be we could get hypersonic tech.😝😆

Just wait for few project Submarine MRFA & AMCA Engine partner once that happen west will not have have power to pressure India .India may get whatever Tech weapon from Russia.

 

[Ayyadurai Namasivayam]

India should collaborate with Israel which already fielded several hypersonic missiles. They have mastered scramjet and other hypersonic technologies. France is developing hypersonic missiles and we can get from them

 

[Cookie monster]

Just wait for few project Submarine MRFA & AMCA Engine partner once that happen west will not have have power to pressure India .India may get whatever Tech weapon from Russia.

Why so? Genuinely curious and what's the geopolitical or technological angle in all this ?

Please do reply.I take a lotta interest in this space.Thanks ☺️

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

Brahmos aerospace is running the first program and ISRO is running the 2nd one. Both of them are pretty far away. Still, given the emphasis on hypersonic weapons off late, we should be able to avoid delays.

 

[Pink Panther]

India should demand reward for sticking with Russia during it's difficult times. May be we could get hypersonic tech.😝😆

Mach 7.0 is really slow when compared to missiles some Countries have for an example US C-HGB that does Mach 17 and is supposed to go up to Mach 20, Russian Avangard Mach20.

 

[sanjay]

Mach 7.0 is really slow when compared to missiles some Countries have for an example US C-HGB that does Mach 17 and is supposed to go up to Mach 20, Russian Avangard Mach20.

That is reentry speed from Stratosphere top of atmosphere under gravity. Not cruise.

 

[Pink Panther]

That is reentry speed from Stratosphere top of atmosphere under gravity. Not cruise.

reentry speed is usually > Mach25, for cruising NASA has classified high hypersonic as anything that cruises between the speed of Mach10-Mach25, and Hypersonic as Mach 5-10 , Mach 7 is kind of on the lower side.

 

[shivkumar sinha]

I have been hearing this 5 years bs for last 7-8 years. Time line for induction of hypersonic cruise and glide vehicles must be reduced to 2-3 years. It is encouraging that brahmos NG will have speed of 3.5-4 Mach and Rudram-3 will move at near hypersonic speed of 4.5 Mach.

 

[Priyan]

Why so? Genuinely curious and what's the geopolitical or technological angle in all this ?

Please do reply.I take a lotta interest in this space.Thanks ☺️

Since he's not replying I will.

He's wrong. Once these deals happen the west will have even more leverage to pressure india with. The engine partner will force India to have an amicable relationship with the partner country because if things go south in relations the partner can threaten to pull out of the program, leaving India stranded.

The same applies to the other deals/projects because India is buying tech from the west in all of them.

 

[YAZI 77]

reentry speed is usually > Mach25, for cruising NASA has classified high hypersonic as anything that cruises between the speed of Mach10-Mach25, and Hypersonic as Mach 5-10 , Mach 7 is kind of on the lower side.

It's an air breathing cruise missile.
Not a Glide Vehicle.

 

[Dagger]

Since he's not replying I will.

He's wrong. Once these deals happen the west will have even more leverage to pressure india with. The engine partner will force India to have an amicable relationship with the partner country because if things go south in relations the partner can threaten to pull out of the program, leaving India stranded.

The same applies to the other deals/projects because India is buying tech from the west in all of them.

As long as China exists, US will let India have a mostly free reign on whatever they wish to buy from whichever country. They might persuade a bit but will definitely not "pull out" because they know the consequences of such act will be huge. It will be absolutely alienating US from India and a lose lose situation for US.

 

[Pink Panther]

It's an air breathing cruise missile.
Not a Glide Vehicle.

Thanks, so it is scramjet , we were also testig a glide vehicle, I tied both together.

 

[Sandeep]

India needs to focus and quickly start developing the technology to deliver a 100% indigenously designed, developed and manufactured hypersonic missile. The technology is crucial and we need to invest more money and people to work on this crucial weapon that will be a strategic weapon in years to come. Currently they tested the HSTDV missile with success but after that there's been no news at all on the project and its progress.

As for the Brahmos 2 India should not buy this very expensive foreign missile which will have many Russian parts and technology with very limited Indian content or to the technology. We won't be able to learn about how to develop a hypersonic missile which is what India needs to learn by itself and it will still succeed.

 

[Pad UwU]

Mach 7.0 is really slow when compared to missiles some Countries have for an example US C-HGB that does Mach 17 and is supposed to go up to Mach 20, Russian Avangard Mach20.

Western hypersonic programs are mostly failure

 

[Pad UwU]

Did we get some technical support and technology from Russian side 🧐🤔

 

[Anant]

Mach 7.0 is really slow when compared to missiles some Countries have for an example US C-HGB that does Mach 17 and is supposed to go up to Mach 20, Russian Avangard Mach20.

The Avangard is a MIRV HGV carried by an ICBM. It is not a missile on its own. Similarly, the C-HGB is a HGV carried on what is essentially an IRBM. The BrahMos 2 is a hypersonic cruise missile, not a re-entry based long-range missile. For that, refer to the HGV-202F.