Breakthrough in hypersonic missile development: DRDO conducts long-duration test of scramjet combustor

New Delhi: Defence Research & Development Laboratory DRDL of DRDO on Saturday achieved a path-breaking milestone in the development of hypersonic missiles by successfully conducting an extensive long-duration test of its actively cooled full scale scramjet combustor.

A run-time of over 1,200 seconds was achieved at the state-of-the-art scramjet connect pipe test (SCPT) facility in Hyderabad, building upon the earlier successful test of over 700 seconds conducted in January this year.

This successful test positions India at the forefront of advanced aerospace capabilities and continuously emerging war technologies. The remarkable feat is achieved through cutting-edge supersonic air-breathing engine, which uses indigenously developed liquid hydrocarbon endothermic fuel, high temperature thermal barrier coating and advanced manufacturing processes. The ground-tests conducted at the SCPT facility have successfully validated the design of advanced active cooled scramjet combustor as well as the capabilities of state-of-art test facility. The combustor has been designed and developed by DRDL and realised by industry partners.

Defence minister Rajnath Singh has complimented DRDO, industry partners and academia on the successful ground-test. He described the achievement as a solid foundation for the nation’s hypersonic cruise missile development programme. DRDO chairman Samir V Kamat also congratulated the teams associated with the test.