India Moves Closer to Developing Next-Gen Hypersonic Missiles

NEW DELHI: For the first time in the nation, DRDO successfully tested an active cooled scramjet engine combustor on the ground for 120 seconds, a step toward the development of next-generation hypersonic missiles.

Major military powers have turned their attention to hypersonic missiles, which travel at speeds higher than Mach 5, or five times the speed of sound. Because of their extreme speed, high maneuverability, and low altitude of flight, these missiles can outmaneuver current air defense and missile systems.

120-Second Scramjet Combustor Test

The Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL) successfully conducted a 120-second ground demonstration of an active-cooled scramjet combustor. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh hailed the achievement as a critical milestone in the development of next-generation hypersonic missiles.

Global Race for Hypersonic Technology

According to a DRDO official, nations such as the US, Russia, China, and India are actively pursuing advancements in hypersonic technology. These efforts primarily rely on scramjet engines, which are air-breathing and sustain combustion at supersonic speeds without using moving parts.

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Key Milestones Achieved During the Test

The ground test demonstrated significant achievements, including successful ignition and stable combustion. A DRDO official likened the challenge of ignition in a scramjet engine to "keeping a candle lit in a hurricane," underscoring the complexity of the process.

Breakthrough in Fuel Development

An indigenous endothermic scramjet fuel, developed by DRDL in partnership with industry collaborators, was another major highlight of the project. This fuel offers dual benefits: enhanced cooling capabilities and improved ease of ignition, paving the way for more efficient hypersonic technology.

Why are Hypersonic Missiles so Important?

The capacity of hypersonic missiles to outmaneuver contemporary missile defense systems makes them significant, particularly for nations possessing nuclear weapons. In order to monitor and intercept missiles that follow predictable, high-altitude trajectories, ballistic missile defense systems—like those built to intercept ICBMs—are constructed.