In News:

On 21 January 2025, DRDO’s Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL) successfully conducted a 120-second ground test of an indigenously developed Scramjet (Supersonic Combustion Ramjet) engine, marking a major milestone in India’s journey towards hypersonic missile technology.

What is Scramjet Technology?

Definition

A Scramjet is an air-breathing engine that sustains combustion at supersonic speeds—optimized for speeds above Mach 5 (hypersonic range).

Working Principle

• Utilizes vehicle’s forward motion to compress incoming air—no onboard oxidizer needed.
• Injects fuel into the compressed supersonic airflow → ignition → high-speed thrust.
• Operates without moving parts, making it lightweight, efficient, and reliable.

Key Indigenous Innovations

Feature                                        Description

Active-Cooled Combustor        Stable combustion achieved at 1.5 km/s airflow, comparable to "keeping a candle lit in a hurricane."

Endothermic Scramjet Fuel     First-time development in India; offers cooling + ignition efficiency.

Thermal Barrier Coating (TBC)   Jointly developed with DST; withstands temperatures beyond melting point of steel using advanced ceramic coating.

CFD Simulations                         Used for design optimization and performance validation of flame-holding techniques.

Significance of Scramjet Test

• Stable Combustion: A major challenge in hypersonic propulsion, now successfully demonstrated.
• Hypersonic Missiles:
  • Speeds >Mach 5 (~5400 km/h).
  • Bypass air defence systems due to speed and maneuverability.
  • Enable rapid, high-impact delivery.
• Reusable Launch Vehicles:
  • Cuts satellite launch costs via air-breathing propulsion.
• Strategic Edge:
  • India joins elite group: USA, Russia, China.
  • Strengthens defence deterrence & technological sovereignty.
• Technology Spillover: Advancements in CFD, materials science, flame stabilization, and fuel chemistry.

Global Hypersonic Race

• China (2021): Tested nuclear-capable hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) that orbited Earth before hitting target.
• USA & Russia: Advanced programs with operational hypersonic systems (e.g., Avangard, Zircon, ARRW).
• India: Now developing indigenous hypersonic missile platform.

In News:

On 21 January 2025, DRDO’s Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL) successfully conducted a 120-second ground test of an indigenously developed Scramjet (Supersonic Combustion Ramjet) engine, marking a major milestone in India’s journey towards hypersonic missile technology.

What is Scramjet Technology?

Definition

A Scramjet is an air-breathing engine that sustains combustion at supersonic speeds—optimized for speeds above Mach 5 (hypersonic range).

Working Principle

• Utilizes vehicle’s forward motion to compress incoming air—no onboard oxidizer needed.
• Injects fuel into the compressed supersonic airflow → ignition → high-speed thrust.
• Operates without moving parts, making it lightweight, efficient, and reliable.

Key Indigenous Innovations

Feature                                        Description

Active-Cooled Combustor        Stable combustion achieved at 1.5 km/s airflow, comparable to "keeping a candle lit in a hurricane."

Endothermic Scramjet Fuel     First-time development in India; offers cooling + ignition efficiency.

Thermal Barrier Coating (TBC)   Jointly developed with DST; withstands temperatures beyond melting point of steel using advanced ceramic coating.

CFD Simulations                         Used for design optimization and performance validation of flame-holding techniques.

Significance of Scramjet Test

• Stable Combustion: A major challenge in hypersonic propulsion, now successfully demonstrated.
• Hypersonic Missiles:
  • Speeds >Mach 5 (~5400 km/h).
  • Bypass air defence systems due to speed and maneuverability.
  • Enable rapid, high-impact delivery.
• Reusable Launch Vehicles:
  • Cuts satellite launch costs via air-breathing propulsion.
• Strategic Edge:
  • India joins elite group: USA, Russia, China.
  • Strengthens defence deterrence & technological sovereignty.
• Technology Spillover: Advancements in CFD, materials science, flame stabilization, and fuel chemistry.

Global Hypersonic Race

• China (2021): Tested nuclear-capable hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) that orbited Earth before hitting target.
• USA & Russia: Advanced programs with operational hypersonic systems (e.g., Avangard, Zircon, ARRW).
• India: Now developing indigenous hypersonic missile platform.