India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is progressing with Project Vishnu, a groundbreaking initiative to develop the Extended Trajectory-Long Duration Hypersonic Cruise Missile (ET-LDHCM). As of November 6, 2025, the project is awaiting final approval from the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) after significant developmental milestones. This missile is designed to operate at speeds exceeding Mach 8 (about 10,000 km/h) with a strike range of approximately 1,500 to 2,500 kilometers, providing India enhanced precision strike capabilities deep within contested regions, including China and Pakistan. Equipped with an indigenous scramjet engine, the missile can sustain hypersonic speeds while flying at low altitudes, making it highly maneuverable and difficult to intercept by current missile defense systems. It can carry conventional or nuclear warheads and boasts advanced stealth features along with heat-resistant materials that withstand temperatures up to 2,000 degrees Celsius. Successful tests conducted in mid-2025 demonstrate India’s significant advancement toward operational readiness, expected by 2028-2030. Project Vishnu represents a strategic leap in India’s defense technology, strengthening its aerial deterrence and joining an elite club of nations with hypersonic weapons technology.