In recent news, Russia has successfully tested its Tsirkon (Zircon) Hypersonic Cruise Missile. The missile was launched from a warship located in the northern part of the country. This development comes shortly after reports of China testing a nuclear-capable hypersonic glide vehicle that managed to encircle the globe before darting towards its target.
Key Facts about the Tsirkon Cruise Missile
The Tsirkon Cruise Missile is set to join the Avangard glide vehicles and the air-launched Kinzhal (Dagger) missiles as part of Russia’s hypersonic arsenal. Unlike ballistic missiles, cruise missiles fly at lower altitudes towards their target, remaining within the Earth’s atmosphere throughout their trajectory. The Tsirkon is among several missiles being developed by Russia to fortify its submarines, frigates, and cruisers.
Hypersonic weapons pose a significant challenge for defense systems due to their high-speed capability – they can travel more than five times the speed of sound – and their ability to maneuver mid-flight.
Hypersonic Technology Explained
In terms of speed, hypersonic technology is rated at Mach 5 or higher, where Mach 1 is equivalent to the speed of sound, which is approximately 343 meters per second.
Most hypersonic vehicles mainly use scramjet technology, a type of Air Breathing Propulsion System. This technology is highly complex and requires the capability to handle high temperatures, making hypersonic systems considerably expensive.
There are two main types of hypersonic weapons: Hypersonic cruise missiles, which utilize rocket or jet propellant throughout their flight and are essentially faster versions of existing cruise missiles, and Hypersonic Glide Vehicles (HGVs). HGVs initially ascend into the atmosphere on a conventional rocket before launching towards their target.
India’s Hypersonic Technology Developments
India is also venturing into the realm of hypersonic technologies. The country has already demonstrated its space capabilities with the successful test of the ASAT under Mission Shakti.
Both the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) have ventured into developing and testing hypersonic technology. One of the latest milestones was DRDO’s successful flight-testing of the Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV), which can travel at six times the speed of sound.
Additionally, DRDO recently inaugurated a Hypersonic Wind Tunnel (HWT) test facility in Hyderabad. This is a pressure vacuum-driven, enclosed free jet facility that simulates conditions from Mach 5 to 12. This development signifies a significant step forward in India’s pursuit of mastering hypersonic technology.
