Hello friends, India is going to become a superpower in the world in terms of hypersonic missile systems. India is developing 12 different hypersonic systems. Recently, DRDO has said that projects are going on to develop 12 different hypersonic systems in India, which are going to help India in air, sea, land and defence.

For your information, let me tell you that apart from India, at present, Russia has the Zircon hypersonic missile. Apart from this, China has hypersonic missiles. But we do not know exactly what type it is because there is a lot of secrecy inside China. On the other hand, the United States of America has been trying to make hypersonic missiles for a long time, but has not been able to make them yet.

Now, in such a condition, if India develops 12 different hypersonic systems, then it will be an outstanding achievement in itself, and it will not take much time for India to do this. You will remember that some time ago, the DRDO chief had said that if India decides to make a missile today, then India can make that missile within 2 years because India’s missile-making capacity has increased a lot.

In such a condition, these 12 systems that we are developing will be developed in India within the next few years, and India will have about 12 hypersonic systems.

Understanding the Systems

Exactly which are these projects that have been announced by DRDO? Come on, friends, now let’s try to understand what has happened here. Look, you will remember that last year India had tested the Hypersonic Technology Demonstration Vehicle, now after that, India is working very fast on the hypersonic system.

Now you will say which hypersonic system is hypersonic, and what is this hypersonic glide vehicle? What is a hypersonic cruise missile? Look, there are different types of rockets available in the market. The first type of missiles is ballistic missiles. You must have heard of Agni missiles, etc., right? What is this? It goes out of the atmosphere into space and then comes back and hits the target. It has a rocket engine. And due to the rocket engine, it is pretty easy to achieve hypersonic speed here. And many countries have hypersonic ballistic missiles.

But the problem with ballistic missiles is that the radar installed here gets more time to detect them.

On the other hand, there is a hypersonic glide vehicle. What happens in it? A rocket launches the missile at hypersonic speed, and then after that, the missile glides. That means the rocket does not have the capacity to move at hypersonic speed, so it takes the help of another rocket through which it achieves hypersonic speed.

Then there is a third type of missile which moves downwards while being completely maneuverable, and this type of missile is called a cruise missile. And if the speed of this cruise missile is more than 5 Mach, then it is called a hypersonic cruise missile.

Apart from this, India has BrahMos in supersonic and Nirbhay missiles in subsonic. But we do not have a hypersonic rocket yet. We want to develop this hypersonic missile system in India.

Now, if you see, many countries in the world have the technology of hypersonic weapons available. But you will not find the technology of ballistic missiles everywhere. But if I say hypersonic cruise missile, then only Russia and China have it; apart from this, no other country has it. Russia has Zircon, and China has ZF. Apart from this, the United States of America is also developing its hypersonic missile. But it has not been able to create it yet.

Engineering Behind Hypersonic Cruise Missiles

Now, the question arises: is it so challenging to develop a hypersonic cruise missile?

Generally, supersonic missiles have a ramjet engine installed inside them. What is a ramjet engine? It keeps moving. It keeps taking oxygen and keeps burning fuel. And a jet engine is being used. Meaning this is a cruise missile. Because I told you what is in a ballistic missile? A rocket engine is used. Because you are taking it outside the atmosphere. But if we talk about a cruise missile, then it is running in the atmosphere itself. That is why a jet engine is used here.

The Ramjet engine is seen as a very efficient engine that can travel farther on less fuel and less weight. But the biggest problem with this Ramjet engine is that it works very efficiently up to a speed of 3 Mach. After the speed of 3 Mach, it almost fails.

Then we need another new type of design called a scramjet engine, which can work well even after the speed of 3 Mach, and the same thing is used in hypersonic missiles, and the same thing is with China and Russia. But India does not have a hypersonic cruise missile yet. The demonstration vehicle we used was a glide vehicle.

DRDO’s 12 Hypersonic Projects

But there are about 12 different projects going on in India.

• The first project is BrahMos 2, in which we are making land, sea, and submarine-launched hypersonic missiles. Whose speed will be around 8 Mach.
• Apart from this, we are also making a long-range hypersonic anti-ship missile system in India. Whose range will be around 1500 km.
• A BM4 missile project with a glide body is also going on in India.
• We are also making air-launched hypersonic missiles in India, which will be integrated with the Sukhoi 30 and AMCA.
• We are even making hypersonic torpedoes for underwater fights.
• Hypersonic interceptor systems are also being made in India to detect hypersonic missiles.
• Efforts are being made to make scramjet engines in India.
• Efforts are being made to make air-breathing engines.
• Common hypersonic warhead bodies are being developed in India.
• Under Project Vishnu, we are developing a hypersonic missile by achieving a speed of 12 Mach.
• We have already tested the Hypersonic Technology Demonstration Vehicle.

So these 12 different projects are being seen in India. Through which India is going to beat the world in hypersonic technology. Now you must have understood all these things exactly.

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You must have noticed one thing about the defence budget. Articles are being continuously published on this topic that India’s defence budget, which is going to be ₹6.8 lakh crore this year, is bigger than last year. It is bigger by 9%. There has not been much of an increase. If you want to ask in dollar terms, we have now reached $78 billion. Still, in 2025, I am not frustrated—I will have to say that we are still far away from a $100 billion defence budget.

However, I will also admit here that when I look at India’s finances, look at the fiscal deficit, look at how much money is coming to the government and how much is going out, then I also have to give tax relief. I look at all this. I admit that it is difficult to find an amount of $100 billion. But still, as a defence enthusiast, as someone who loves India, we will keep repeating this point again and again: India needs to increase its defence spending.

The Ever-Present Two-Front Threat

You must have noticed one thing. Recently, many articles have been published on the fact that India’s defence budget is ₹6.8 lakh crore. But is it enough to keep pace with China and Pakistan now? Because you have to understand that India will always face the possibility of a two-front attack. I will not count Bangladesh as much right now because I do not think Bangladesh will emerge as a military threat to India in 10 years.

So, if we do not count Bangladesh, then we always have to be prepared for a two-front war. And whatever our defence budget will be—whatever money we are allocating to the Ministry of Defence and whatever money we are giving to DRDO—there will always be a question: if we compare with China and Pakistan, where do we stand? Yes, I agree that in overall development, we have gone far ahead of Pakistan. China is ahead of us. We should compare ourselves with China. But in terms of defence budget, we have to look at Pakistan as well because it is a country that wants to harm us through military means.

Budget Breakdown: What Does ₹6.8 Lakh Crore Mean?

Coming back to the defence budget, some of you may think that this entire amount of ₹6.8 lakh crore is very huge. The Defence Ministry has received a lot of money. If you convert it into dollars, it is $78 billion. Purchase everything like the F-35 fighter jet, missiles, S-500, etc.

But the problem is that all of this money is not for buying new military equipment. Because a very big chunk out of this ₹6.8 lakh crore, around ₹4.9 lakh crore, is revenue expenditure. This means that this money will be allocated to the salaries, pensions, and other expenses of the soldiers. Then we are left with ₹92,000 crore. This is your defence capital expenditure.

Whatever research has to be done, whatever money will go to DRDO, if you have to purchase a new fighter jet, if you have to make some purchases for the Navy, acquire some technology, guns, anything—this all has to come from less than ₹2 lakh crore. This limited capital explains why India has hesitated for so long on buying fifth-generation fighter jets.

Aero India and Fifth-Generation Fighter Jets

The Aero India event is going to be held in India. Now, the USA has also confirmed that most likely the fifth-generation fighter jet F-35 will participate in India’s Aero India event. Russia is also sending its Su-57. Participation of the U.S.’s F-35 has almost been confirmed. At the last moment, they took a U-turn—that’s a different matter—but for now, it seems they are coming.

I was thinking that our defense budget is not so big. The capital expenditure is not enough for us to we can purchase any of these. Because if we buy them, then it has to be a part of their program. Their spare parts and t

Their servicing will become very expensive. The matter will become very expensive.

BRO & DRDO: Budget Allocations

And then remember that this capital expenditure also includes a small amount for BRO—the true bro of India. I am talking here about the Border Roads Organisation. These people have done amazing work over the years. The roads of India near the China border were very bad. BRO has been a true bro. They have constructed a lot of roads day and night, in difficult circumstances. Thanks to them, we have better infrastructure on our borders.

So, BRO’s budget is around ₹7,150 crore, which is 99.7% more than last year. DRDO has received ₹23,000 crore here. For comparison, in the previous year, DRDO had received around ₹23,000 crore. So DRDO has received a little more money here.

However, I have to say that either we will have to upgrade DRDO altogether as an organization, or they should be given a lot more. Honestly, if you ask me, what DRDO is doing with such a small budget is still pretty good. If you compare DRDO‘s budget with its Western or Chinese counterparts, DRDO’s budget is much lower. And look at these constraints—unfortunately, when the overall government is not getting so much money.

We have also allocated various R&D projects worth around ₹14,900 crore. In this way, our total defence budget is expected to work.

China’s Defense Budget: Clouded in Secrecy

Now, let us compare it with what China and Pakistan are doing. What is China’s defence budget today? It is a very difficult question. You know, the Americans have been talking about this question for many years. Actually, for many months, they have been debating and publishing articles. They have a think tank that publishes a report stating that the actual defence budget of China, which they officially tell the world is around $225 billion, is around $700 billion.

Countering this, many people say that in the USA, too, sensationalism sells a lot. Excessive fear about China sells a lot. So, many people claim that China’s defence budget has not reached $700 billion. Even now, their budget is around $450 billion or $300 billion.

So, you will find many estimates. Americans are confused about this and debate among themselves. I can show you many security review documents regarding this. For example, Texas National Security Review and other forums. I have read many debates there. You will see estimators like “China defense spending: how to get it wrong and right.”

Americans are doing deep studies to understand how strong China is. Some believe it has genuinely reached close to $700 billion. The U.S. defence budget is already over $900 billion and may soon reach $1 trillion.

So, how much should we consider as China’s actual defence budget? It’s a difficult question. Most American analysts assume a safe figure of around $400–450 billion. As for the $700 billion claim, China hasn’t reached that yet. Even if we assume $450 billion, China is still far ahead of India.

Path to $100 Billion: What Are the Options?

To bridge this gap, India must raise its defence budget to $100 billion. The question is: how?

• Should we disinvest government companies?
• Should we do public-private partnerships in mining and critical sectors?
• Should we borrow?

One option is to focus on defence exports. If our exports keep increasing consistently, we will create financial room, even if we take loans in the short term. As exports grow, the interest on those loans can be covered by sales revenue. This is a feasible approach.

Pakistan: A Reduced Threat—for Now

Now, from China, we come to Pakistan. Thankfully, Pakistan has mismanaged its economy, and as a result, its defence budget is not that high. Pakistan’s defence budget for FY 2024–25 is just $7.64 billion, which is very low. India does not face any direct threat from this and can easily handle Pakistan.

Additionally, Pakistan is facing internal instability. Today’s news says 18 paramilitary personnel were killed in an ambush in Balochistan. Around 60–70 people attacked them. Tensions are also rising on the Afghanistan border.

So, thankfully, for now, in the two-front war, China remains a strong front, but Pakistan appears weak economically and internally. If Pakistan had managed its economy better and maintained a $25–30 billion defence budget, India could have faced serious problems.

The Strategic Dilemma

Just assume that some power above—maybe Lady Luck—is currently supporting India. Thankfully, there is not much threat from Pakistan. But at the same time, looking at these numbers, we have to decide soon:

• Are we going to increase our defence expenditure?
• If not, are we going to look at multi-country security pacts as an option?

Either way, India will have to make a big defence decision in the next five years.

Conclusion

India’s defence budget, while expanding, remains insufficient for the scale of threats it faces from China and Pakistan. To maintain peace and power projection in Asia, India must rethink its defence financing strategy.

Whether through exports, partnerships, or strategic alliances, the road to a $100 billion defence budget needs to be a national priority.

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