In a significant boost to maritime defence capabilities, India successfully conducted a flight test of a long-range anti-ship missile off the coast of Odisha on Friday. Top defence sources confirmed to CNN-News18 that the hypersonic missile demonstrated formidable reach by accurately hitting a designated target at a range of 1,500 km, a milestone that significantly pushes the country’s defensive perimeter further into the sea.
Operating at the entry point of hypersonic flight with speeds exceeding Mach 5, the missile is designed to be exceptionally difficult for modern ship-based interception systems to neutralise.
The mission validated the precision of the missile’s advanced terminal guidance systems as it concluded with a direct hit after sustaining
a high-velocity trajectory. This successful trial met all pre-defined technical objectives, from the initial launch and mid-course manoeuvres to the final strike, confirming the reliability of its propulsion and airframe integrity.
By proving its ability to neutralise high-value naval assets at such vast distances, sources say the test marks a major advancement in indigenous technology and strengthens the nation’s sea defence capabilities well before hostile threats approach sovereign waters.
