India Hypersonic Missile: The ET-LDHCM DRDO is soon to test the Extended Trajectory-Long Duration Hypersonic Cruise Missile (ET-LDHCM). ET -LDHCM i.e. Extended Trajectory – Long Duration Hypersonic Cruise Missile, is India’s most advanced hypersonic missile project ever. This project is part of Vishnu and DRDO has fully developed it with indigenous technology. This missile can fly at the speed of five times faster (MAC 8 or 11,000 km/h) and demolish the enemy’s important bases in minutes with a range of more than 1,500 km. This missile will strengthen India’s military strength.
The ET-LDHCM missile can cover about 3 km in 1 second. Its speed is so high that enemy radars cannot detect or intercept it. The ET-LDHCM has a firepower over 1,500 km, allowing it to reach the military bases of Pakistan and China easily. It can be launched by air, land and sea from all three platforms. The scumjet engine in the missile burns fuel by taking oxygen from the air, which can maintain hypersonic speed for a long time. DRDO has done a successful ground test for 1,000 seconds in 2025.
ET-LDHCM missile features
The ET-LDHCM missile is equipped with a variety of features, which makes it a great weapon. If we talk about its specification, then it is as follows.
- It fly on low-altitude.
- The direction can change (maneuverable trajectory).
- The high temperature is made of material that is (up to 2,000 ° c) and an anti-oxidation coating is also installed in it. This means it will not be spoiled by sunlight and water.
- The ET-LDHCM has the ability to carry atoms or traditional payloads of up to 1000–2000 kg. This makes it both a tactical and strategic weapon.
Why is ET-LDHCM important for India?
This missile brings India in the queue of powers with hypersonic technology like America, Russia and China. The RAW and the army get the facility of surgical hypersonic attack within the enemy on operation-level. This is a completely Make in India project. It has been built in collaboration with DRDO and private partners at Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam missile complex in Hyderabad. ET-LDHCM gives India a decisive strategic lead amidst frequent missile testing and border disputes of Pakistan and China. Along with hypersonic technology, India will also get high -level technology in satellite launch, aircraft, and disaster management. There will also be thousands of jobs in projects related to this and opportunities in MSME sector.
In which conditions is the ET-LDHCM missile useful?
The ET-LDHCM missile can prove to be effective in the land attack mission (radar, bunker, military base). These anti-ship missions (Destroyer, aircraft career) and strategic missions (enemy’s strategic properties) can be helpful in destroying.