HSTDV Technology: GK Questions and Answers

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulates DRDO for the successful flight of the Hypersonic Test Demonstration Vehicle. He also said that the scramjet engine developed by our scientists helped the flight achieve a speed 6 times the speed of sound! Very few countries have such capabilities today.

1. Which of the following statement/s is/are correct about HSTDV technology?

1. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully flight tested a Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV).
2. It is an unmanned scramjet vehicle with the ability to travel at six times the speed of sound.

Select the correct answer from the code given below:
A. Only 1
B. Only 2
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2
Ans. C
Explanation: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully flight tested a Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV) on 7 September, 2020 which is an unmanned scramjet vehicle with the ability to travel at six times the speed of sound.

2. Which of the following are the examples of subsonic cruise missile?
A. American Tomahawk cruise missile
B. Harpoon of USA
C. Nirbhay of India
D. All the above
Ans. D
Explanation: Subsonic cruise missile travels at a speed lesser than that of sound.  American Tomahawk cruise missile is a well-known subsonic missile. Other examples are Harpoon of USA, Nirbhay of India, and Exocet of France.

3. The hypersonic cruise missile vehicle was launched by DRDO by using a proven solid rocket motor, which took it to an altitude of ..... kilometres.
A. 20 km
B. 25 km
C. 30 km
D. 35 km
Ans. C
Explanation: The hypersonic cruise vehicle was launched by using a proven solid rocket motor, which took it to an altitude of 30 kilometres. 

4. How the parameters of the launch and cruise vehicle including the scramjet engine were monitored?
A. Multiple tracking radars
B. Electro-optical systems
C. Telemetry Stations
D. All the above
Ans. D
Explanation: With the help of multiple tracking radars, electro-optical systems, and Telemetry Stations, the parameters of launch and cruise vehicle including the scramjet engine were monitored.

5. Which of the following statement/s is/are correct about Scramjet Engine?

1.  It is an improvement over the ramjet technology.
2. It operates efficiently at hypersonic speeds and allows supersonic combustion.

Select the correct code from the answer given below:
A. Only 1
B. Only 2
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2
Ans. C
Explanation: The Scramjet Engine is an improvement over the ramjet technology. It operates efficiently at hypersonic speeds and allows supersonic combustion. 

6. From which place DRDO successfully flight tested Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV)?
A. Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Launch at Wheeler Island, the coast of Odisha.
B. Kurnool, the coast of Andhra Pradesh
C. Coast of Visakhapatnam
D. None of the above
Ans. A
Explanation: On 7 September, 2020, DRDO successfully flight tests Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV) from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Launch at Wheeler Island, off the coast of Odisha.

What is HSTDV technology and why does it matter for India?