"Milestone" celebrated

Nuclear power India tests hypersonic missile for the first time

India has tested a hypersonic missile (pictured) for the first time.(Bild: DRDO India)

Nuclear power India has tested a hypersonic missile for the first time - and celebrated the "milestone" afterwards. The missile was launched from an island off the country's east coast, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh announced on Sunday.

"India has achieved an important milestone by successfully conducting a test flight of a long range hypersonic missile," he said on X (formerly Twitter). He congratulated Team DRDO India (an agency of the country tasked with research and development for the military, note), "our armed forces and industry for amazing achievement," Singh wrote (see post below).

Unlike conventional ballistic missiles, hypersonic missiles fly at low altitudes, so they reach their targets faster and are less likely to be intercepted by air defense systems. The projectiles are also maneuverable during flight.

India has tested a hypersonic missile (image) for the first time.(Bild: DRDO India)

Hypersonic missiles have so far only been tested by the USA, Russia, China and North Korea. Now India, which has been working massively on strengthening and arming its armed forces for some time, has followed suit.