India is apparently testing the scramjet air breathing engine on its new BrahMos-II hypersonic cruise missile as a prelude to this weapon's first test flight in 2020.

Reports in Indian media indicate this testing began only recently. When it does enter service with the Indian Armed Forces in 2025, BrahMos-II will be the world's fastest cruise missile with its speed of Mach 7 (8,600 km/h).

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This speed is over double that of the current operational version of BrahMos, BrahMos-I, which is in service with the armed forces.

BrahMos-II will confer on India a major strategic advantage in mountain warfare against China. The missile is designed to select targets hidden behind a mountain range and its "hypersonic qualities means the missile would likely pass through Beijing's defense systems like a knife through butter," said a Russian report.

Russia is justifiably proud of the fear inspired by BrahMos since it co-developed the missile with India. BrahMos is a joint venture between the Russia's NPO Mashinostroeyenia and India's Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) that together formed BrahMos Aerospace, the maker of the missile.

It's widely believed BrahMos-II is the export version of Russia's 3M22 Zircon hypersonic cruise missile, and both weapons look very similar in external appearance. Production of the 3M22 Zircon is expected to begin late this year at the earliest. Tests of this weapon began in March 2016.

Last week, Russia claimed the 3M22 Zircon, which is being developed as an anti-ship missile, hit Mach 8 (9,900 km/h) in a recent test, which makes this weapon the fastest hypersonic missile on Earth -- if the unverified results of this test are true.

"During the tests of the missile, it was confirmed that its speed on the march reaches eight Mach," said Russian state-owned media. Russia didn't specify which submarine, surface ship or land installation launched the Mach 8 Zircon, nor did it specify when.

TagsIndia, BrahMos-II hypersonic cruise missile, scramjet air breathing engine, Indian Armed Forces, BrahMos Aerospace, 3M22 Zircon