CURRENT AFFAIRS

Detailed explanation-1: -Ans. India has successfully test-fired Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV), making it only the fourth country in the world after the US, China and Russia to develop and test the technology that will pave the way for missiles that will travel at six times the speed of sound.

Detailed explanation-2: -The US Air Force successfully tested two Lockheed Martin hypersonic missiles in July 2022, fired from a B-52 bomber.

Detailed explanation-3: -Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully demonstrated the hypersonic air-breathing scramjet technology with the flight test of Hypersonic Technology Demonstration Vehicle (HSTDV) at 1103 hours from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Launch Complex at Wheeler Island, off the coast of Odisha today.

Detailed explanation-4: -A hypersonic test bed aims to bring the frequency of tests to one per week. France, Australia, India, Germany, Japan, South Korea and North Korea and Iran also have hypersonic weapon research programs.