Shockwaves Across Asia: India Launches Powerful Ballistic Missile - What Does It Mean for Regional Security?

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

The missile was tracked by various range systems deployed in multiple domains. The flight data obtained from down-range ship stations confirmed the successful terminal manoeuvres and impact with high accuracy.

In a post on X, India’s Defence minister, Rajnath Singh noted

https://x.com/rajnathsingh/status/1857980534011605222/

This Long Range Anti-Ship Missile is a significant addition to India’s arsenal of missiles. Many are calling it, and rightfully so, “The Carrier Killer of India.” A counterweight and a peer opponent of China’s Carrier Killer Missile known as DF-21D.

But in the true sense, it is more than that. It is quasi-ballistic, meaning it can change its course and perform evasive manoeuvres to evade defence systems.

Travelling at hypersonic speeds and NOT following a generic ballistic trajectory makes this missile challenging to detect.

As its name suggests, it’s designed to sink heavy warships, carriers, and cargo ships supplying the enemy.

Its main task is to deny any freedom of movement over a large part of the ocean. And sink those who dare to do it.

India is facing the world’s largest naval power. It adopts a carefully planned doctrine focusing more on area denial and standoff capabilities instead of matching the numbers, which India obviously cannot do. So, instead of reciprocating shipbuilding prowess, these missile families are being developed to counter China’s numbers.

It’s cheaper and effective and instils a true sense of fear in the enemy that their mightiest ships are a few launches away from becoming a marine museum.

This becomes more interesting when you realise China is on a carrier-building spree with two already in service, the 3rd under trials and the 4th under construction. Supporting ships were also being built, such as destroyers in large numbers.

This massive build-up calls for such missiles, and here we are, with one such unique missile on its path to being deployed on Indian warships. These shore-based batteries can counter enemy Carrier Battle Groups operating in the IOR.

Here is what we know about India’s long-range hypersonic missile

It was Developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
It HAS A LENGTH OF ABOUT 14 METERS
INDIA JOINS A SELECT FEW COUNTRIES WITH SUCH WEAPON
The Missile WEIGHS LESS THAN 20 TONNES
IT CAN CARRY VARIOUS PAYLOADS WITH A RANGE OF ABOUT 1,500 KM
PROJECTOR VELOCITY: UP TO MACH 9

Indians won’t have to go near the Chinese to engage them. All they have to do is sit at choke points, pick on enemy warships passing through these choke points, and engage them even far away in the ocean if required.

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