♦ The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted a successful flight-trial of India’s first long-range hypersonic missile. The missile was launched from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Island, off the coast of Odisha on 17 NOvember 2024.

♦ The hypersonic missile was designed to carry various payloads for ranges greater than 1,500 km for the Armed Forces.

♦ Only the United States, Russia and China have developed technologies to field fast-manoeuvring hypersonic missiles that fly at lower altitudes and are extremely hard to track and intercept.

♦ This missile was indigenously developed by the laboratories of Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Missile Complex, Hyderabad, along with various other DRDO laboratories and industry partners.