DRDO Successfully Tests India’s First Long-Range Hypersonic Missile Off Odisha Coast
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully conducted a flight trial of India’s first long-range hypersonic missile from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha on the night of November 16, 2024. This milestone flight trial marks a significant achievement in India’s defence capabilities.
The hypersonic missile, designed to carry a variety of payloads, is capable of striking targets at ranges exceeding 1,500 km, making it a potent asset for the Indian Armed Forces. The missile’s flight was meticulously tracked by multiple range systems deployed across various domains. Data collected from down-range ship stations confirmed the missile’s successful terminal maneuvers and precise impact, showcasing a high degree of accuracy.
This missile has been indigenously developed by DRDO’s laboratories, particularly those at the Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Missile Complex in Hyderabad, in collaboration with various other DRDO units and industry partners. The trial was closely monitored by senior DRDO scientists and military officers.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Defence Minister Rajnath Singh hailed the flight trial as a historic achievement, emphasizing that it places India among a select group of nations with the technological capability to develop such advanced military systems. He congratulated DRDO, the Indian Armed Forces, and industry partners for their successful collaboration on this project.
https://x.com/DefenceMinIndia/status/1857981682453983543
Dr Samir V Kamat, Secretary of the Department of Defence R&D and Chairman of DRDO, also congratulated the team involved in the successful mission, praising their dedication and efforts in achieving this remarkable milestone.
