India successfully test-fires hypersonic missile vehicle: DRDO

India successfully test-fires Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV) according to DRDO sources. With this, India becomes the 4th nation to successfully test the technology that will allow future missiles to become 6 times faster than sound waves. Previously, only the US, Russia, and China had the technology.

According to the Defence Research & Development Organization (DRDO), This achievement will be a building block for India's next-generation missiles to be able to make use of this complex technology.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh posted a tweet on Monday to announce the successful testing of the Hypersonic Demonstrator Vehicle.

With this successful feat, India will indigenously mass-produced Hypersonic missiles within five years.

According to government sources, this missile system has multiple civilian applications as well. HSTDV will also allow satellites to launch at low costs.

India, which is one of the biggest importers of arms is aiming for the production of indigenously developed technology. India needs to become self-reliant in the defense manufacturing sector if it wants to utilize the defense budget efficiently. Going indigenous will allow more investment in research & development of new technologies. India also needs the private sector to invest heavily in defense for India to successfully become an exporter of arms under the Make in India initiative.