Responding to Chinese technological advances, India is prioritising a Hypersonic Air-breathing Vehicle with Air integration systems (HAVA).
In a first step towards weaponisation, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Joint Services Innovation and Indigenisation Centre (JSIIC) jointly conducted hypersonic vehicle tests on 9 December Dec that, according to an ISRO statement, 'achieved all required parameters and demonstrated hypersonic vehicle capability'.
This ties in with a statement by the then Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat who announced last year the creation of a strategic ‘new’ rocket force and the need to use 'niche' technologies to face current security challenges.
ISRO