This thread is a totally flawed...
No general notations followed,nonthelss it bring in ballistic missiles and vagaira.
If one has to go by international notation of a hypersonic missile, its the one that travels most or complete flight in hypersonic regime.
As of today, no hypersonic missiles existed for surface to surface role. But there were couple of SAM`s that are hypersonic.
the logic here is simple. If we take a SAM/ABM for instance the relative distance it travels is minimal compared to a SSM.Hence its quiet easy to develope the solid fuels required in offering high power to density.
But when we consider a hypersonic SSM the technology required simply multiplies.The reason why even US still not ble to field any hypersonic SSM untill today.
Even brahmos flying at Mach 2.8 at high altitudes takes tremendous heating and pressure strains.Reason why it uses high strength titanium alloys.For actual hypersonic SSM to get inducted into respective armed forces, atleast we have to give another 7 years from now.
Since most of the BMs re-entry vehicles goes hypersonic, its not worth discussing IMHO. What is the point of discussion on a free falling object? My take on it is different unless they are able to dodge interceptors.
4. HSTDV is a demonstration vehicle, not a missile, and China has tested the hypersonic Sheng Long spacecraft. China has another one under development.
5. Shaurya is a ballistic missile, and China has their own counterparts (DF-11, B-611M, P-12, DF-15, DF-16, etc).
Right HSTDV is a TD as it was originally conceived, but with the first flight contemplated for early next year there is a high possibility that its followup varriant will enter service by 2017-18 time frame. FYI ISRO flight tested its own RLV for testing on aerodynamics.Next followup flight will be of engine and combustion. Since ground trails of all HSTDV scramjet went sucessfull with achieving for good run over 20sec in every next test it holds too many promises.Only reason that HSTDV is not going to be a pure hypersonic missile, its gonna be a re-usable one and another varriant going to be a ultra long range one.
Shaurya OTOH is not a ballistic missile. Its kinda hybrid. But 95% of its flight path (if normal mode is selected) is cruise mode,but not a parabolic one unlike BMs. Its max ceiling is 50km and then levels its flight path and cruises at hypersonic speeds.The reason why its has to perform roll manuevers during its cruise phase to bring down the surface temp and spread them unifromly over the entire surface.Otherwise the missile will loose stability with uneven surface temp and areal expansions and so on......
your DF-11, B-611M, P-12, DF-15, DF-16, etc wont even come close to the league where Shaurya lies in. You cant compare missiles of two different types.
