DRDO tests key tech for next-gen hypersonic missiles

NEW DELHI: In a step towards developing next-generation

hypersonic missiles

, DRDO has conducted the successful test of an

active cooled combustor

of a

scramjet engine

on the ground for 120 seconds for the first time in the country.
Hypersonic missiles, which fly at speeds greater than Mach 5 or five times the speed of sound, have become a major focus area for major

military powers

, given their capability to defeat existing missile and air defence systems due to super-fast speeds, high-manoeuvrability and low altitudes of flight.
DRDO lab Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL) recently demonstrated the active cooled scramjet combustor on the ground for 120 seconds. “The achievement marks a crucial milestone in the development of next-generation hypersonic missiles,” defence minister Rajnath Singh said.
A DRDO official said, “Several nations including the US, Russia, China and India are actively pursuing

hypersonic technology

. The key is scramjets, which are air-breathing engines capable of sustaining combustion at supersonic speeds without using any moving parts.” “The

ground test

showcased several notable achievements, demonstrating its potential for operational use in hypersonic vehicles, like successful ignition and stable combustion. Ignition in a scramjet engine is like ‘keeping a candle lit in a hurricane’,” he added.

The indigenous development of

endothermic scramjet fuel

, jointly by DRDL and the industry, is central to this breakthrough. The fuel offers dual benefits of significant cooling improvement and ease of ignition.