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Hypersonic Missiles
Russia Unveils “Sea Terminator”: Hypersonic Missile Warship Targets Subs & Aircraft Carriers
Context: Russia’s unveiling of the “Sea Terminator” warship armed with hypersonic missiles underscores a global shift in military strategy. These weapons are not just faster—they’re smarter, stealthier, and harder to stop.
What are hypersonic missiles?
Hypersonic missiles are advanced weapons that travel at speeds exceeding Mach 5 (five times the speed of sound, or ~6,174 km/h). Unlike traditional ballistic missiles, they are highly manoeuvrable and can fly at low altitudes, making them extremely difficult to detect and intercept. Types of Hypersonic Missiles:
- Hypersonic Glide Vehicles (HGVs): Launched by rockets, they glide toward targets using aerodynamic lift.
- Hypersonic Cruise Missiles (HCMs): Powered by scramjet engines, they maintain hypersonic speeds throughout flight.
How do hypersonic missiles augment a country’s security architecture?
Hypersonic weapons are a game-changer in modern warfare. Here’s how they enhance a country’s security architecture:
- Strategic Deterrence: Can evade missile defence systems due to unpredictable flight paths and extreme speed. Reduce adversary response time, complicating defence planning.
- Precision Strike Capability: Deliver payloads (conventional or nuclear) to high-value targets within minutes. Ideal for pre-emptive strikes on enemy bases, command centres, or mobile launchers.
- Geopolitical Leverage: Nations with hypersonic capabilities gain military prestige and negotiating power. Strengthens regional dominance and global deterrence posture.
- Tactical Flexibility: Useful in multi-domain warfare—land, sea, air, and even space. Can be launched from aircraft, ships, submarines, or land-based platforms.
Why is it essential for India to build hypersonic missiles?
- Countering Regional Threats: China and Pakistan are both investing in hypersonic technologies. India’s successful test of a long-range hypersonic missile in 2024 positions it among elite nations.
- Enhancing Strategic Reach: Hypersonic missiles can strike targets like Islamabad in 4 minutes or Karachi in 6 minutes, reshaping South Asia’s security dynamics
- Indigenous Capability: DRDO’s Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV) and BrahMos-II projects showcase India’s growing self-reliance. Reduces dependence on foreign defence systems and boosts domestic R&D.
- Maritime Security: Hypersonic missiles can neutralise aircraft carriers and submarines, securing India’s interests in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
- Technological Leadership: Advances in scramjet propulsion, carbon composites, and AI-guided navigation have civilian spin-offs in aerospace and satellite launch systems.
