India is advancing the development of the BrahMos-II hypersonic cruise missile, a joint project with Russia. Expected to reach speeds around 8,500 km/h, it aims to surpass current BrahMos missile capabilities in speed, precision, and survivability. Defence planners suggest this next-generation weapon could pose a significant challenge for adversaries like China and Pakistan to counter for up to a decade. The missile is designed to overcome advanced air defence systems, with potential for extended range variants.