According to Atul Rane, CEO and MD of BrahMos Aerospace, India is capable of producing a hypersonic missile and will have its own version in five to six years.
The news comes months after China conducted its own hypersonic missile test. Such weapons can travel at speeds five to seven times faster than sound. The United States is also racing to develop hypersonic missiles, which will provide nations with unrivalled attack range.
“BrahMos Aerospace can produce hypersonic missiles. “We will be able to have our first hypersonic missile by BrahMos in five to six years,” said Atul Rane at a function to mark the start of BrahMos’ ‘Silver Jubilee Year’ celebration (1998-2023).
The project, however, appears to be falling behind schedule, as it was supposed to be ready for testing by 2017. The missiles will be developed in three variants that can be launched from the ground, air, or sea. BrahMos currently manufactures supersonic cruise missiles with a range of 290 kilometres.
