India has successfully test fired its first long-range hypersonic missile and joined an elite group of nations, which includes Russia, the US, and China. The hypersonic missile is designed to carry payloads over 1,500 kms. New Delhi’s advancement is a strategic deterrent against neighboring China and Pakistan. What is a long-range hypersonic missile? What makes it an advanced weapon? How does the missile test strengthen India’s position on the global defense landscape?