Missile test takes DRDO closer to achieving hypersonic flight capability

Hypersonic flight involves travelling at speeds above Mach 5, or 1,500 metres/ second. An airliner travelling at hypersonic speed would reach from New York to Tokyo in a couple of hours

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) took a step towards the coveted technological goal of achieving hypersonic flight with the launch of a technology validation mission on Wednesday.  

“DRDO today (Wednesday) launched a Technology Demonstrator Ve­h­icle to prove a number of critical technologies for future missions from Dr Abdul Kal­am Island off the coast of Odisha… The data has been collected and will be analysed to validate the critical technologies,” announced the DRDO. 

Rockets have long travelled at hypersonic speeds, but they have the advantage of carrying their own oxygen, along with their fuel. Achieving hypersonic flight with an air-breathing engine