India attempted to launch indigenously-developed Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV) in its maiden test from a base off the Odisha coast on Wednesday.

Although initial reports suggested that Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) carried out a successful test of the indigenously developed unmanned demonstrator aircraft that can operate at hypersonic speeds carrying missiles, but later reports suggested that the DRDO could not achieve the desired results.

A successful test of a hypersonic technology transporter vehicle is likely to bolster the development of a hypersonic cruise missile - the Brahmos II that is currently under development with Scramjet technology.

A scramjet engine is a sophisticated version as it has the capability of operating at hypersonic speeds and allows supersonic combustion getting the name; Supersonic Combustion Ramjet, or Scramjet.

However, a DRDO statement did not speak of the hypersonic technology demonstrator vehicle triggering a debate the tests were not successful.

"Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) today launched a Technology Demonstrator Vehicle to prove a number of critical technologies for futuristic missions from Dr Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha," a statement from DRDO said.

Downplaying the reports, DRDO officials said that the test was meant for experimenting critical technologies for future programmes. "We have collected the data and are cross checking and verifying it for future assessments," said an official.

"The missile was successfully launched at 1127 Hours. Various radars, telemetry stations and electro optical tracking sensors tracked the vehicle through its course. The data has been collected and will be analysed to validate the critical technologies," DRDO statement added.

The Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HTDV) project is an ambitious project of DRDO and is intended to serve multiple military and civil purposes. While it can be used for launching cruise missiles it will also serve the purpose for launching satellites at a low cost.

It is being developed by DRDO with assistance from Israel and the UK and Russia.