Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) achieved a breakthrough in India’s Hypersonic Technology Programme by successfully conducting ground testing of a scramjet engine for over 1,000 seconds.
The test was conducted by Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad, at its state-of-the-art Scramjet Connect Test Facility. This milestone marks a crucial advancement towards India’s goal of developing hypersonic cruise missile capabilities.
Key Highlights
Event: Successful ground testing of Active Cooled Scramjet Subscale Combustor.
Duration of Test: Over 1,000 seconds (compared to earlier 120 seconds test in January 2025).
Conducted By: Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad, DRDO.
Facility: Scramjet Connect Test Facility (newly built and state-of-the-art).
Significance:
- Validates design of the long-duration scramjet combustor.
- Confirms the readiness for full-scale flight-worthy combustor testing.
- Lays a strong foundation for India’s Hypersonic Cruise Missile Development Programme.
About Hypersonic Cruise Missiles:
Definition: Missiles capable of traveling at speeds over Mach 5 (more than 6,100 km/h) using air-breathing propulsion systems.
Engine Type: Air-breathing engines with supersonic combustion (Scramjet engines).
Air-breathing propulsion: Utilizes atmospheric oxygen rather than carrying an oxidizer onboard, making it lighter and more efficient.
Challenges:
- Aerodynamic Heating: Surfaces experience temperatures above 2,000°C.
- Combustion: Extremely short time (milliseconds) for fuel injection, mixing, and ignition as airflow remains supersonic inside the engine.
- Flight Stability: Requires advanced materials, thermal protection systems, and precision aerodynamic design.
Development History
Lead Organisation: DRDL, Hyderabad.
Foundation Technology: Based on achievements from the Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV) programme.
HSTDV demonstrated:
- Autonomous flight at hypersonic speeds.
- Air-breathing, kerosene-fueled, scramjet-powered sustained flight.
- Crucial validation for hypersonic technologies such as propulsion, aerodynamics, and materials.
Challenges in Sustained Hypersonic Flight:
- Aerodynamic Heating: Intense heat requires advanced thermal protection systems.
- Combustion Dynamics: Managing fuel injection, mixing, and ignition within milliseconds in supersonic airflow.
- Aerodynamic Stability: Critical design precision needed to handle drag and shockwaves for efficient sustained flight.
What is Scramjet Engine?
Scramjet (Supersonic Combusting Ramjet): A jet engine designed for efficient supersonic combustion at hypersonic speeds.
Key Features:
- Flame Stabilization Technique: Keeps a continuous flame burning even with airspeeds exceeding 1.5 km/s.
- Requires Assisted Launch: Scramjets and ramjets cannot operate from a standstill; they need initial speed provided by a rocket booster.
Advantages Scramjet Engine
Efficiency:
- More efficient than rocket engines, as it uses atmospheric oxygen instead of carrying oxidizers.
- Reduces the propellant weight of launch vehicles (around 70% of propellant is oxidizer in conventional rockets).
Enhanced Space Access:
- Potential to significantly lower space launch costs.
- Enables carrying heavier payloads.
High Speed: Capable of reaching speeds of Mach 6 and beyond.
Deterrence Enhancement: Facilitates the development of hypersonic missiles and high-speed reconnaissance platforms.
Associated Program: ISRO’s AVATAR Project: Focuses on the development of a reusable rocket employing ramjet and scramjet engines for economical space launches.