The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully conducted a 120-second ground test of an active-cooled scramjet combustor. This marks the first such achievement in India, with long-duration hypersonic technologies usage in the offing.
Hypersonic missiles, which travel at speeds exceeding Mach 5 (over 5,400 km/h), are poised to redefine India’s modern warfare.
Their ability to evade air defence systems and deliver high-impact strikes has led global powers like the United States, Russia, China, and India to focus on hypersonic research.
At the heart of hypersonic systems is the scramjet engine — a supersonic combustion ramjet that sustains combustion at extreme speeds without moving parts. DRDO’s ground test demonstrated critical milestones, including successful ignition and stable combustion, vital for operational hypersonic vehicles.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh heaped praise upon DRDO and its partners, calling the accomplishment a “crucial step towards self-reliance in hypersonic missions”
DRDO Chairman Dr Samir V Kamat also commended the DRDL team for their innovation and dedication to strengthening India’s defence capabilities.
KEY FACTORS FOR SUCCESS
Successful flame stabilisation, advanced simulations and indigenous scramjet fuel were key factors that contributed to positive output.
- Flame stabilisation: DRDO developed techniques to maintain continuous combustion at air speeds exceeding 1.5 km/s, a challenge often compared to “keeping a candle lit in a hurricane.”
- Advanced simulations: The engine design underwent Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations to predict and optimise performance.
- Indigenous scramjet fuel: DRDO, in collaboration with industry partners, developed India’s first endothermic scramjet fuel. This advanced fuel simplifies ignition, enhances cooling, and meets industrial-scale requirements.
BREAKTHROUGH IN THERMAL MANAGEMENT
Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), a Hyderabad-based laboratory under the Defence Research and Development Organisation, partnered with the Department of Science and Technology (DST) to create a high-performance Thermal Barrier Coating (TBC) that is capable of withstanding temperatures beyond the melting point of steel.
The ceramic TBC, applied inside the scramjet engine using advanced deposition methods, ensures durability and performance in extreme conditions.