• Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted a successful flight-trial of India’s first long-range hypersonic missile from APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha. 

• The achievement that has put the country in a select group of nations having the weapon that can strike with extreme speed and evade most air-defence systems.

• This hypersonic missile is designed to carry various payloads for ranges greater than 1,500 kms for the Armed Forces.

• This missile has been indigenously developed by the laboratories of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Missile complex, Hyderabad, along with various other DRDO laboratories and industry partners.

• Generally, hypersonic missiles, capable of carrying conventional explosives or nuclear warheads, can fly in the range of five times the speed of sound (Mach 5, which is roughly 1,220 kilometres) per hour at sea level.

• Hypersonic missiles are considered highly manoeuvrable and agile as they can change course mid-way. Ballistic missiles, which can also fly at Mach 5, have limited manoeuvrability in view of their predetermined trajectories.

• At present, Russia and China are way ahead in developing hypersonic missiles, while the United States is in the process of developing a range of such weapons under an ambitious programme.

• Several other countries, including France, Germany, Australia, Japan, Iran and Israel, are also pursuing projects to develop hypersonic-missile systems.

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