Hypersonic warfare is emerging as the most disruptive military technology of the twenty‑first century. These weapons, travelling at speeds above Mach 5, include glide vehicles boosted by rockets that manoeuvre unpredictably and cruise missiles powered by scramjets capable of sustained hypersonic flight. Unlike ballistic missiles, hypersonic weapons can change course mid‑flight, fly at lower altitudes, and exploit radar blind zones. Their speed and manoeuvrability make interception nearly impossible, compressing decision timelines to seconds and ensuring penetration of even advanced defences. India has advanced from supersonic to hypersonic systems. Operation Sindoor in 2025 demonstrated the lethality of BrahMos supersonic missiles. Building on this, the Defence Research and Development Organisation tested an actively cooled scramjet combustor for 1,200 seconds, a world‑class achievement. India’s projects include the Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle, the planned BrahMos‑II, and concepts such as the Dhvani glide vehicle, LR‑AShM, and ET‑LDHCM, signalling determination to achieve indigenous hypersonic capability.