A missile of this type could be designed for a horizontal as well as vertical launch. It would fly in under ramjet power at speeds of up to Mach 3, then switch to the scramjet to accelerate to Mach 7 for mid-course flight. Once near the target area, the missile would decelerate to deliver its payload or to operate reconnaissance sensors, then return to base. Possible configuration of the hypersonic reusable missile system. In India, scramjet technology development is progressing at multiple laboratories.
Further work is in progress.
The technologies needed for a hypersonic reusable missile could be used in a multi-purpose aerospace missile, an idea currently at the conceptual development stage in India. This system will drastically reduce the operational cost for various missions and will have multiple applications meeting both military as well as civilian requirements. It was further modified to hold two missiles in its helicopter hangar which could be wheeled out for firing. A portable console was also rigged up to feed in the missile guidance parameters for launching. An artist's rendition of the Dhanush SLBM being launched.