Hypersonic BrahMos-II To Stealth Fighters: What To Expect From DRDO In Next 10 Years

Last Updated:July 15, 2025, 14:39 IST

Dr PK Mishra, Principal Secretary to PM Modi, reviewed advanced defence projects at DRDO's Bengaluru lab, signaling India's intent to become a global weapons supplier

India's fifth-generation stealth fighter, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), is expected to fly its first prototype by 2026. (DRDO Image)

In a quiet but significant visit to DRDO’s Bengaluru lab, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Principal Secretary Dr PK Mishra reviewed India’s most advanced and ambitious defence projects, ranging from hypersonic missiles to laser-based air defence systems. His visit signals the government’s clear intent that India won’t just arm itself but will aim to become a global weapons supplier.

Fresh off Operation Sindoor, a covert mission against terror camps in Pakistan that displayed the growing operational reach, India is now focusing on ramping up indigenous weapons production. At the heart of this shift is a strategic pivot that ‘Make-in-India’ isn’t just about self-reliance; it’s about capturing a slice of the global arms export market.

Dr Mishra interacted with scientists leading radar and electronic warfare programs. He asked for updates on both active and stalled projects, including those aligned with India’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Sell to the World’ defence export push. DRDO officials confirmed that he urged faster delivery of next-gen systems.

This high-level scrutiny comes as the Ministry of Defence pushes a sweeping indigenisation drive. Over 400 weapon systems and platforms have already been pulled off the import list. From now on, India will build and deploy these itself.

The DRDO Playbook: 10-Year Vision

1. Hypersonic Strike: BrahMos-II

A major leap from the current BrahMos, the BrahMos-II is designed to hit targets 1,500 km away at Mach 8, eight times the speed of sound. It will be launchable from land, sea, and air platforms. Trials are expected to begin in the coming years.

2. Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile

Nicknamed the “carrier killer," this joint DRDO–Navy project is undergoing trials. With a range exceeding 1,000 km and built-in electronic counter-countermeasures, it’s engineered to punch through jamming and sink high-value enemy ships.

3. Stealth Dominance: AMCA

India’s fifth-generation stealth fighter, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), is expected to fly its first prototype by 2026. The aircraft will feature supercruise capabilities, internal weapons bays, and stealth geometry. Serial production could begin around 2032.

4. Multi-Layer Missile Defence: Project Kusha

Often dubbed India’s answer to the S-400, this indigenous air defence system will intercept everything from drones to ballistic missiles. It’s built to provide overlapping coverage across multiple ranges (150–400 km) and is slated to be operational within a few years.

5. VSHORADS

This shoulder-fired missile system, developed for frontline troops, can take out low-flying drones and helicopters within a 6 km range. With 5,000 units requested by the Army, it’s one of the most critical short-range air defence programmes in India.

6. Smart Precision: Rudram Series

After successfully testing the Rudram-1, India is working on Rudram-2 and Rudram-3, anti-radiation missiles designed to destroy enemy radars and electronic warfare centers. Rudram-2 will have a 250–300 km range, while Rudram-3 could reach beyond 550 km. Both will be air-launched from platforms like the Sukhoi Su-30MKI and AMCA.

7. Directed Energy: CLAWs Laser Defence

DRDO is developing laser weapons to neutralise drones, mortar rounds, and micro-missiles. The CLAWs system will use directed energy to vaporize incoming threats mid-air, a vital tool for the future battlefield.

Projects In Limbo

While many projects are charging ahead, some critical systems are still bogged down:

1. GTX-35 Kaveri Engine: Talks with France’s Safran for joint development continue. The indigenous engine is crucial for making the AMCA fully home-grown.
2. Uttam AESA Radar: Designed for fighter aircraft, production is capped at just 24 units a year. DRDO, HAL, and BEL are working on scaling it with a conveyor-line model.
3. Light Tank Zorawar: Co-developed with L&T, the tank is ready, but cost overruns, mostly due to engine import dependencies, have delayed induction.
4. Warhawk AI Combat Drone: DRDO’s killer UAV program aims for initial operational clearance (IOC) by 2027, but development of its sensor fusion software has fallen behind schedule.

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