DRDO Achieves Hypersonic Milestone with Long-Duration Scramjet Test

Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL) of DRDO achieved a major milestone in Hypersonic Missile development by successfully conducting a long-duration test of its Actively Cooled Full-Scale Scramjet Combustor. The test recorded a run-time exceeding 1,200 seconds at the state-of-the-art Scramjet Connect Pipe Test (SCPT) Facility in Hyderabad, building upon an earlier successful test of over 700 seconds conducted in January this year.

DRDL designed and developed the combustor in collaboration with industry partners. This achievement positions India at the forefront of advanced aerospace capabilities and emerging war technologies. The feat has been enabled by a cutting-edge supersonic air-breathing engine utilising indigenously developed liquid hydrocarbon endothermic fuel, high-temperature thermal barrier coating, and advanced manufacturing processes. Ground tests at the SCPT facility have successfully validated both the design of the actively cooled scramjet combustor and the capabilities of the state-of-the-art test infrastructure.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh complimented DRDO, industry partners and academia on the successful ground test of the full-scale actively cooled long-duration scramjet engine, describing it as a solid foundation for the nation’s Hypersonic Cruise Missile Development Programme.

Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Dr Samir V Kamat congratulated the teams associated with the test.