
China, Pakistan shaking with fear as India plans to prepare THIS missile under DRDO's secret 'Project Vishnu', not Brahmos or Agni but...
Representative image- Missile
After India conducted Operation Sindoor, the missiles of India including the BrahMos missile created havoc in Pakistan, destroying the Chinese supplied air defence systems. Reports also say that India is also preparing the BrahMos missile in collaboration with Russia. However, media reports are now claiming that India is preparing to test a hypersonic cruise missile under Defence Research and Development Organisation DRDO's secret Project Vishnu. Here are all the details you need to know about the End to End Test of Long Duration Hypersonic Cruise Missile.
As per a report by the Navbharat Times, DRDO is preparing missile which can prove to be a strategic game changer. With a range of over 1,500 km, 1,000–2,000 kg, the missile has a reported speed of Mach 8. It can carry nuclear or conventional warheads, significantly enhancing India's defense capabilities.
The new hypersonic cruise missile is being prepared under DRDO's secret Project Vishnu, as part of Project ET-LDHCM (End to End Test of Long Duration Hypersonic Cruise Missile). DRDO successfully conducts scramjet engine ground test
In a significant development from few months back, DRDO successfully tested a cutting-edge Active Cooled Scramjet Combustor (engine) ground test for 120 seconds for the first time in India. An official said that it marks a crucial milestone in developing next-generation hypersonic missiles.
Hypersonic missiles are a class of advanced weaponry that travel at speeds greater than Mach 5 which is five times the speed of sound or more than 5,400 km/hr. These advanced weapons have the potential to bypass existing Air Defence Systems and deliver rapid and high-impact strikes. Supersonic Combustion Ramjet
Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), a Hyderabad-based laboratory has taken the initiative to develop a long-duration Supersonic Combustion Ramjet or Scramjet-powered Hypersonic technology. DRDL recently developed these technologies.
The ground test of the scramjet combustor showcased several notable achievements, demonstrating its potential for operational use in Hypersonic vehicles, like successful ignition and stable combustion. Ignition in a scramjet engine is like 'keeping a candle lit in a hurricane'.
(With inputs from agencies)
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
India's defence drones: Powered by high-end manufacturing tools
India's recent military operation, Operation Sindoor, marked a pivotal shift in the strategic role of indigenous drones. These systems provided real-time surveillance, resisted electronic warfare, and enabled precision targeting, showcasing India's growing frontline capabilities while also exposing significant vulnerabilities. With nearly 70% of commercial drone components still imported, mainly from China, India remains dependent on external supply chains. This disconnect between operational success and manufacturing reliance highlights an urgent priority: converting battlefield effectiveness into backend self-reliance. Building a robust and competitive domestic drone ecosystem is not merely a technological goal but a strategic necessity. This image shows a damaged building at Nur Khan airbase after Indian airstrikes. Prior to this, Pakistan used drones and heavy artillery to hit civilian areas across the LoC, resulting in casualties.(via REUTERS) Countries such as the US, China, and Turkey have built strong drone ecosystems by aligning defence goals with industrial policies. The US draws on its mature defence-industrial base and ongoing research and defence (R&D). China benefits from State-backed manufacturing clusters and aggressive export initiatives. Turkey advances domestic production through public-private partnerships and international collaboration. These models offer useful lessons for India. To stay competitive in a drone market projected to exceed $50 billion by 2030, India must establish clear policy, scale industrial capacity, and define a cohesive national strategy. India's drones are evolving beyond passive surveillance tools. In Operation Sindoor, they supported precision strikes and shaped tactical decisions, establishing unmanned systems as central to modern combat. The government responded with emergency procurement, revised defence policies, and increased support for domestic drone makers. These steps indicate a strategic shift. India aims not just to use drones, but to design, build, and sustain them locally. However, assembling drones addresses only part of the need. Developing effective UAVs demands a strong manufacturing base built on precision engineering, high-performance materials, and a skilled workforce. Key components like propulsion units, airframes, and sensor housings must meet rigorous aerospace standards. Materials such as titanium and Inconel provide necessary durability and heat resistance but are challenging to work with. Manufacturing them requires advanced technologies including five-axis machining, hybrid additive-subtractive manufacturing, and electrical discharge machining. Securing the domestic supply chain for UAV components is essential, not just for industry, but for national security. In times of conflict, disruptions in foreign supply could compromise defence operations. Indian UAV firms are increasingly integrating advanced five-axis CNC machines and hybrid 3D printing tools to meet the demands of defence-grade component manufacturing. This reflects a broader shift in India's precision engineering landscape, demonstrating how access to advanced tools can transform domestic manufacturing. India plans to invest about $470 million in UAVs over the next 12 to 24 months, almost triple its pre-conflict spending levels. While drone assembly units have expanded, India still imports many of the subsystems and parts. Valued at $654 million in 2024, the Indian drone market is expected to more than double to $1.43 billion by 2029, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 17%. In the same period, the number of drones in India is projected to increase from 10,803 units to over 61,000. Behind this growth is a thriving ecosystem of innovators and businesses. Beyond defence, drones are reshaping civilian sectors such as agriculture, mining, logistics, and emergency response. Their applications in crop monitoring, surveying, and disaster relief increase efficiency and unlock new revenue and job opportunities. By supporting real-time data collection and precise operations, drones can modernise traditional industries and drive rural economic growth. Dual-use capabilities help Indian manufacturers scale more quickly, access wider markets, and support sectors like telecom and public safety, boosting the economic impact of drone technology. A skilled workforce is essential to realising this potential. Indian MSMEs and startups are innovating in areas like Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based navigation and propulsion systems. However, their progress depends on access to advanced tools, reliable financing, and targeted training. Centres of Excellence, industry-academia partnerships, and vocational skilling programmes can help prepare drone engineers, machinists, and technicians. Structured apprenticeships and continued education will keep India's drone manufacturing competitive with global peers. Closing the capability gap requires collaboration among defence R&D institutions, machine tool manufacturers, and UAV makers. Policymakers must streamline procurement, expand capital access, and incentivise domestic sourcing. Infrastructure such as drone parks, testing corridors, and innovation zones can support scaling efforts. Recent steps like the Drone Directorate and production-linked incentives offer a foundation. India now needs faster and more coordinated execution. India has a limited but critical window to lead in the global drone economy. To seize this opportunity, the country must prioritise three enablers: Scaling precision manufacturing capabilities, strengthening domestic supply chains for core components, and investing in workforce development through targeted skilling initiatives and technical education. Scaling up precision manufacturing will strengthen defence readiness and contribute to the $5 trillion economy goal. If India sustains its momentum, it can emerge as a global hub for drone production and services. Precision engineering is not just a technical strength. It is the bedrock of strategic autonomy. While drones operate in the skies, national power is built on the ground. This article is authored by Anuj Budhiraja, vice president, Phillips Additive.


Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Europe's lithium quest hampered by China and lack of cash
Europe's ambition to be a world player in decarbonised transportation arguably depends on sourcing lithium abroad, especially in South America. Even the bloc's broader energy security and climate goals could depend on securing a steady supply of the key mineral, used in batteries and other clean energy supply chains. But Europe has run into a trio of obstacles: lack of money, double-edged regulations and competition from China, analysts told AFP. China has a major head start. It currently produces more than three-quarters of batteries sold worldwide, refines 70 percent of raw lithium and is the world's third-largest extractor behind Australia and Chile, according to 2024 data from the United States Geological Survey. To gain a foothold, Europe has developed a regulatory framework that emphasises environmental preservation, quality job creation and cooperation with local communities. It has also signed bilateral agreements with about 15 countries, including Chile and Argentina, the world's fifth-largest lithium producer. But too often it fails to deliver when it comes to investment, say experts. "I see a lot of memoranda of understanding, but there is a lack of action," Julia Poliscanova, director of electric vehicles at the Transport and Environment (T&E) think tank, told AFP. "More than once, on the day that we signed another MoU, the Chinese were buying an entire mine in the same country." The investment gap is huge: China spent $6 billion on lithium projects abroad from 2020 to 2023, while Europe barely coughed up a billion dollars over the same period, according to data compiled by T&E. Lagging investment At the same time, the bottleneck in supply has tightened: last year saw a 30 percent increase in global demand for lithium, according to a recent report from the International Energy Agency (IEA). "To secure the supply of raw materials, China is actively investing in mines abroad through state-owned companies with political support from the government," the IEA noted. China's Belt and Road Initiative funnelled $21.4 billion into mining beyond its shores in 2024, according to the report. Europe, meanwhile, is "lagging behind in investment levels in these areas", said Sebastian Galarza, founder of the Centre for Sustainable Mobility in Santiago, Chile. "The lack of a clear path for developing Europe's battery and mining industries means that gap will be filled by other actors." In Africa, for example, Chinese demand has propelled Zimbabwe to become the fourth-largest lithium producer in the world. "The Chinese let their money do the talking," said Theo Acheampong, an analyst at the European Council on Foreign Relations. By 2035, all new cars and vans sold in the European Union must produce zero carbon emissions, and EU leaders and industry would like as much as possible of that market share to be sourced locally. Last year, just over 20 percent of new vehicles sold in the bloc were electric. "Currently, only four percent of Chile's lithium goes to Europe," noted Stefan Debruyne, director of external affairs at Chilean private mining company SQM. "The EU has every opportunity to increase its share of the battery industry." Shifting supply chains But Europe's plans to build dozens of battery factories have been hampered by fluctuating consumer demand and competition from Japan (Panasonic), South Korea (LG Energy Solution, Samsung) and, above all, China (CATL, BYD). The key to locking down long-term lithium supply is closer ties in the so-called "lithium triangle" formed by Chile, Argentina and Bolivia, which account for nearly half of the world's reserves, analysts say. To encourage cooperation with these countries, European actors have proposed development pathways that would help establish electric battery production in Latin America. Draft EU regulations would allow Latin America to "reconcile local development with the export of these raw materials, and not fall into a purely extractive cycle", said Juan Vazquez, deputy head for Latin America and the Caribbean at the OECD Development Centre. But it is still unclear whether helping exporting countries develop complete supply chains makes economic sense, or will ultimately tilt in Europe's favour. "What interest do you have as a company in setting up in Chile to produce cathodes, batteries or more sophisticated materials if you don't have a local or regional market to supply?" said Galarza. "Why not just take the lithium, refine it and do everything in China and send the battery back to us?" Pointing to the automotive tradition in Mexico, Brazil and Argentina, Galarza suggested an answer. "We must push quickly towards the electrification of transport in the region so we can share in the benefits of the energy transition," he argued. But the road ahead looks long. Electric vehicles were only two percent of new car sales in Mexico and Chile last year, six percent in Brazil and seven percent in Colombia, according to the IEA. The small nation of Costa Rica stood out as the only nation in the region where EVs hit double digits, at 15 percent of new car sales.

The Wire
3 hours ago
- The Wire
Canton Fair Builds Year-Round Trade Ecosystem with Upgraded Digital Platform and Dual-Version App
GUANGZHOU, China, June 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As the 137th China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair) successfully concluded on May 5, its commitment to building a "never-ending" trade platform was more evident than ever. The event saw a record-breaking turnout, with over 280,000 overseas buyers from 219 countries and regions attending in person, up 17.3% from 135th session. Notably, the Fair also attracted 527,185 online participants from 229 countries and regions, highlighting the significant role of digital engagement in expanding its global reach. This impressive online participation underscores the Fair's evolution into a dynamic, year-round business ecosystem, seamlessly blending physical and virtual experiences to foster international trade. A key highlight of the 137th Canton Fair was the continued optimization of the Fair's digital infrastructure. The official Canton Fair online exhibition platform attracted 4.37 million cumulative visits to exhibitor stores, reinforcing its role as a vital hub for global trade connections. Designed to bridge time zones and geographical boundaries, the platform enables buyers and suppliers to begin negotiations before arriving on-site and continue seamlessly after the physical exhibition ends. Building on momentum from previous editions, the Canton Fair has upgraded its mobile application by launching two tailored versions: one for buyers and one for suppliers. The buyer version enhances sourcing efficiency through improved search and recommendation engines, a trade matchmaking function, and added services such as e-badge scanning for exchanging digital business cards, invitation letter applications, and translator bookings. The supplier version focuses on supporting real-time trade dialogue, offering practical tools such as buyer reception aids, note-taking features, and integrated trade matchmaking services. These upgraded apps serve as all-in-one trade tools, streamlining everything from itinerary planning to lead follow-up. By mid-June, the apps had been downloaded over 350,000 times. In addition, the Fair hosted a series of online industry-specific activities and matchmaking events, fostering more effective online connections between global buyers and Chinese suppliers. The Canton Fair is evolving beyond its traditional role as a trade exhibition, transforming it into a year-round global business ecosystem. Through upgraded digital tools, enhanced mobile app functionality, and an expanded online engagement strategy, the Fair now facilitates continuous trade matchmaking and seamless buyer-supplier interaction. This digital transformation showcases how technology can extend the impact of physical events, creating an always-on platform that drives international business growth beyond the exhibition period. To download the Canton Fair App, please visit (Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PRNewswire and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). This is an auto-published feed from PTI with no editorial input from The Wire.