Why in the News?
India is set to test the Extended Trajectory-Long Duration Hypersonic Cruise Missile (ET-LDHCM), an advanced hypersonic missile developed by DRDO under the secretive Project Vishnu.
What is Project Vishnu?
- Overview: Project Vishnu is a top-secret initiative by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to develop hypersonic missile technologies.
- Strategic Purpose: The project aims to enhance India’s strategic deterrence by delivering high-speed missiles capable of both conventional and nuclear roles.
- Focus: It is specifically designed to counter threats from China and Pakistan, reinforcing regional strike capability.
- Platform Flexibility: A core feature is multi-platform deployment, allowing the missile to be launched from land, air, and naval systems.
- Integrated Technologies: It brings together scramjet propulsion, materials science, and precision guidance into a single hypersonic weapons system.
- Doctrinal Alignment: It reflects India’s shift toward technology-driven warfare and supports its credible minimum deterrence doctrine.
About the ET-LDHC Hypersonic Missile:
- Overview: It is the flagship missile system under Project Vishnu.
- Speed and Range: It reaches Mach 8 (~11,000 km/h) and has a strike range of 1,500 km, making it nearly impossible to intercept with current defence systems.
- Payload Versatility: It can carry 1,000–2,000 kg of conventional or nuclear warheads, allowing mission-specific configurations.
- Propulsion: Powered by an indigenously developed scramjet engine, it uses atmospheric oxygen for combustion, improving fuel efficiency and endurance.
- Strike Capabilities: With evasive manoeuvrability and a flat trajectory, the missile is ideal for deep-penetration and precision attacks.
- Next-Gen Materials: It is built from materials that withstand 2,000°C+ temperatures, ensuring oxidation resistance and structural integrity.
- Launch Platforms: The missile is compatible with land systems, fighter jets, and naval vessels, offering operational flexibility.
| [UPSC 2024] Consider the following statements:
1. Ballistic missiles are jet-propelled at subsonic speeds throughout their flights, while cruise missiles are rocket-powered only in the initial phase of flight. 2. Agni-V is a medium-range supersonic cruise missile, while BrahMos is a solid-fuelled intercontinental ballistic missile. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? Options: (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 * |
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