BM-04 Ballistic Missile: DRDO’s New Secret Weapon Showcased in Hyderabad
- India South Asia
Shreya Naskar- 0
- 4 minutes read
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has unveiled a previously unseen ballistic missile, BM-04, at the ‘Vigyan Vaibhav’ Defence Exhibition held at Gachibowli Stadium in Hyderabad from February 28 to March 2, 2025. The revelation has sparked widespread curiosity and speculation within the defence community. While officially described as a Short-Range Ballistic Missile (SRBM), the missile’s design hints at potential hypersonic capabilities, making it a significant development in India’s defence technology. The showcased missile, labelled simply as BM-04, stands out due to its sleek aerodynamic design and delta-wing glide body, a feature commonly associated with hypersonic missile systems. The project name “BM” and the prototype designation “04” suggest it is part of a classified missile series. However, no records of BM-01, BM-02, or BM-03 have been publicly disclosed by DRDO, adding to the intrigue. Officials present at the exhibition confirmed that BM-04 falls within the SRBM category, with a range likely between 300 to 1,000 km. However, several military analysts believe that the missile could possess hypersonic capabilities due to the presence of a Common Hypersonic Glide Body (C-HGB) mounted on a two-stage booster.
BM-04’s unveiling comes amid growing regional security challenges, particularly China’s and Pakistan’s anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) strategies. These strategies rely on layered air defences, anti-ship missiles, and radar networks to prevent enemy forces from operating in contested regions. For example, China’s DF-21D “carrier killer” missile and DF-17 hypersonic missile pose significant threats to India’s naval assets and border security. The BM-04’s hypersonic glide body suggests it could be designed to evade missile defence systems and conduct precision strikes on critical enemy infrastructure, including radar installations, missile batteries, and naval warships. Its two-stage booster may have been adapted from existing Agni or Prithvi missile technologies, allowing for rapid and precise strikes within a 1,000 km range. The unveiling of BM-04 follows DRDO’s successful test of a long-range hypersonic missile in November 2024. That missile, with a range of over 1,500 km, was launched from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Island and demonstrated high-speed terminal manoeuvrability. This test cemented India’s position among the U.S., Russia, and China as a leading player in hypersonic missile technology. DRDO has been expanding its hypersonic research, and wind tunnel models of hypersonic glide vehicles (HGVs), Long-Range Anti-Ship Missiles (LRASHM), and other advanced missile systems were showcased at its Hyderabad facility in December 2024. If BM-04 shares technology with these systems, it could be a shorter-range variant of India’s emerging hypersonic strike arsenal. India has been strengthening its missile force under its Integrated Rocket Force (IRF) strategy, which combines conventional short-range ballistic missiles like Pralay (500 km range) with advanced hypersonic strike platforms. The BM-04 could be a key part of this multi-layered deterrence strategy, offering rapid response and high-speed strike capabilities. While DRDO has not disclosed details about BM-04’s propulsion, payload, or operational status, its public unveiling suggests that flight tests could be on the horizon. If it is indeed hypersonic, it would represent a major breakthrough in India’s efforts to counter modern A2/AD threats. For now, BM-04 remains a mystery, but its appearance at Hyderabad’s Vigyan Vaibhav Defence Exhibition provides a glimpse into India’s rapidly advancing missile technology.
