Dhvani Hypersonic Glide Vehicle: India’s Next-Gen Missile Aiming for 10,000 km Range

India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is quietly moving forward in one of the most advanced and game-changing areas of modern military technology — hypersonic weapons. The latest and most talked-about project in this space is the Dhvani Hypersonic Glide Vehicle (HGV), a system poised to potentially double the range of India’s existing longest-range missile, the Agni-V.

What is the Dhvani Hypersonic Glide Vehicle?

The Dhvani HGV is a next-generation missile system designed to travel at hypersonic speeds — over Mach 5, or more than 6,100 kilometres per hour. Unlike traditional ballistic missiles, which follow a predictable curved path, hypersonic glide vehicles can manoeuvre mid-flight, making them extremely difficult to detect, track, and intercept.

Recently, a full-scale model of the Dhvani was publicly displayed, offering a rare glimpse into this highly secretive program. The model measures around 9 meters in length and 2.5 meters in width, hinting at the scale and ambition of this project.

How Does It Work?

The Dhvani isn’t a missile in the conventional sense. Instead, it works in two stages:

1. A powerful booster rocket launches the HGV into the upper atmosphere.

2. Once at the desired altitude, the glide vehicle detaches and races toward its target at hypersonic speeds, following an unpredictable path.

This unpredictable glide phase is what gives hypersonic systems their edge over existing missile defence networks, which rely on predicting a missile’s trajectory.

Why Is It Special?

The biggest headline is Dhvani’s potential range of 6,000 to 10,000 kilometres — a significant leap from the 5,500 km range of India’s Agni-V intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). This means Dhvani could bring nearly all of Asia, Europe, and even parts of North America within India’s strategic reach.

The impressive range comes from a combination of an initial high-altitude boost and an extended hypersonic glide phase. Thanks to its blended wing body shape — an advanced aerodynamic design — Dhvani can achieve better lift-to-drag ratios, enhancing both its speed and range.

Specifications at a Glance (Estimated)

• Length: Approx. 9 meters

• Width: Approx. 2.5 meters

• Speed: Hypersonic (Mach 5 and above)

• Range: 6,000 to 10,000 kilometres

• Design: Blended wing body with high lift and manoeuvrability

• Launch System: Booster rocket + Hypersonic Glide Vehicle

• Role: Strategic deterrence, long-range strike capability

Why Is It Important for India?

If Dhvani achieves operational status with its intended range, it would place India among an elite group of nations with true intercontinental hypersonic capabilities. This would not only strengthen India’s strategic deterrence posture but also enhance its global power projection potential.

Such weapons could deliver conventional or strategic payloads quickly and precisely, giving India rapid-response options in a crisis while ensuring that any potential adversary faces a credible, difficult-to-defend-against deterrent.

India has already made strides in hypersonic technology with successful tests of its Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV). The Dhvani represents the next phase of this effort — moving from demonstration to a full-fledged operational weapon system.

While exact timelines remain confidential, the display of a full-scale model suggests that DRDO’s work on Dhvani is progressing steadily. Once fully developed, Dhvani could mark a major milestone in India’s defence modernization journey, securing its place in the strategic hypersonic club alongside the US, Russia, and China.