Dhvani Missile: India’s hypersonic leap set for 2025 test | Fusion - WeRIndia

India is preparing for a major leap in defence technology with the upcoming test of its first indigenous hypersonic missile, Dhvani, by the end of 2025.

At the core of this ambitious project is the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), which aims to place India among the few nations capable of deploying operational hypersonic weapons.

Dhvani is classified as a Hypersonic Glide Vehicle (HGV).

It is designed to travel at speeds over Mach 5-6 (more than 7,400 km/h), making it extremely difficult to intercept using current missile defence systems like the Iron Dome (Israel) or THAAD (USA).

The missile is engineered to perform sharp manoeuvres mid-flight, giving it both speed and unpredictability.

The missile uses a two-stage system:

• A rocket booster first launches the missile to high altitudes.
• The glide vehicle then detaches and zooms toward its target at hypersonic speeds.

This flight path, combined with its low altitude and agility, makes interception nearly impossible.

Dhvani is a direct evolution of DRDO’s successful Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV).

The HSTDV showcased scramjet propulsion, a crucial technology for sustained hypersonic flight.

In prior ground tests, India achieved a record 1,000-second scramjet combustor run, marking a major technical milestone.

In recent months, DRDO completed critical validations, including:

• Aerodynamic testing
• Thermal management systems
• Guidance and navigation trials
• Advanced ceramic thermal coatings to survive extreme heat

These developments confirm that Dhvani is ready for its first full-scale flight test in 2025.

Dhvani is expected to be more lethal than BrahMos, India’s current supersonic cruise missile.

It will be capable of hitting both land and maritime targets with pinpoint precision.

If successful, India will join an elite group of hypersonic powers: the USA, Russia, and China.

Experts say this breakthrough could redefine India’s regional security stance and greatly strengthen its influence on the global strategic stage.

Image Credit: Krishna Chaitanya Velaga, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Image Reference: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Indian_Army_Aviation_Corps_and_Air_Defence_Arty_Joint_Ex_2.jpg