New Delhi: In a major breakthrough in advanced missile technology, India has reportedly successfully test-fired a new indigenous hypersonic cruise missile capable of flying at speeds exceeding Mach 8 and striking targets up to 1,500 kilometres away. The missile, known as the Extended Trajectory-Long Duration Hypersonic Cruise Missile (ET-LDHCM), was developed under the Defence Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO) ambitious Project Vishnu.

According to media reports, the test was conducted on Monday (July 14). However, an official confirmation regarding the same is yet to come. The missile is said to have achieved its intended trajectory and hit the target with remarkable accuracy.

The ET-LDHCM surpasses the capabilities of the current BrahMos cruise missile in both range and speed. While BrahMos travels at around Mach 3, the new missile is engineered to cruise at speeds of over 11,000 km/h (more than 3 km per second)—well beyond Mach 8.

Designed to evade radar detection and air defence systems, the missile can carry conventional or nuclear warheads weighing between 1,000 to 2,000 kilograms. It is capable of low-altitude flight, mid-air directional changes, and precision strikes on hardened enemy targets such as military bunkers, destroyers, and aircraft carriers.

The ET-LDHCM incorporates cutting-edge materials and engineering:

  • Heat-resistant materials capable of withstanding temperatures up to 2,000°C
  • Oxidation-resistant coatings to protect against salt water and sunlight

An active-cooled scramjet engine, developed by DRDO, which uses atmospheric air to burn fuel, enabling it to sustain hypersonic speeds over long distances

A subscale version of this engine has already undergone a 1,000-second successful ground test, demonstrating long-duration operational stability under high thermal stress.

The missile is designed to be launched from multiple platforms, including land-based launchers, warships, and combat aircraft such as the Sukhoi Su-30MKI and Dassault Rafale. Its versatility ensures operational flexibility across various theatres of conflict.

Project Vishnu

Project Vishnu, under which the ET-LDHCM is being developed, is a flagship DRDO initiative aimed at creating next-generation hypersonic weapons indigenously. DRDO is working in collaboration with Indian private sector companies to expedite development and integration.

Final preparations are already underway for extensive testing, including validation of guidance systems, range, speed, and survivability in harsh combat conditions.

BrahMos-II

In parallel, DRDO is also working with Russia's NPO Mashinostroyenia on the BrahMos-II (also known as BrahMos Mark II), a hypersonic missile powered by a scramjet engine. The BrahMos-II is projected to reach speeds of Mach 8 and a range of up to 1,500 km.

DRDO conducted a 1,000-second test of the BrahMos-II scramjet combustor in April 2025, followed by another test in May 2025 in the Bay of Bengal, where the missile achieved a range of 800 kilometres.