The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on
Monday successfully tested Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV)
using the indigenously developed scramjet propulsion system. The launch happened
at 11:03 IST hours from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Launch Complex at Wheeler Island,
off the coast of Odisha.

Also Read | DRDO successfully tests indigenously developed Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle

Following the launch of the vehicle, Prime Minister Naredra
Modi lauded the efforts of the Indian scientists.

“Congratulations to DRDO for successful flight of Hypersonic
Test Demonstration Vehicle today. The scramjet engine developed by our
scientists helped the flight achieve a speed 6 times the speed of sound! Very
few countries have such capability today,” news agency ANI quoted PM Modi as saying.

The HSTDV is an ambitious project of the DRDO that aims to
serve multiple military and civil purposes. It is expected to power futuristic
long-range missile systems and aerial platforms.

The Defence Minister of India, Rajnath Singh, said, “With
this success, all critical technologies are now established to progress to the
next phase.”

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“I congratulate to DRDO on this landmark achievement
towards realising PM’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat,” he added.

The HSTDV, based on hypersonic propulsion technologies and developed
by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), will help India
develop futuristic space assets like long-range missile systems and aerial
platforms, the Defence Ministry said.

The HSTDV is capable of powering missiles to attain a speed
of around Mach 6 or six times the speed of sound, the officials said, adding
only a very few countries like the US, Russia and China have such a capability.