The Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) on Thursday conducted a successful long-duration ground test of a full-scale, actively cooled scramjet engine, marking a major milestone in India’s Hypersonic Missile Programme. The test was carried out by the Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL) at its Scramjet Connect Pipe Test (SCPT) facility in Hyderabad. During the trial, the scramjet engine operated continuously for over 12 minutes, validating its design, combustion stability, and thermal management under simulated hypersonic conditions.
Scramjet (Supersonic Combustion Ramjet) engines use atmospheric oxygen for combustion, enabling sustained flight at speeds exceeding Mach 5. The successful demonstration of an actively cooled, full-scale engine is critical for the development of hypersonic cruise missiles, which can travel at extremely high speeds while remaining maneuverable.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO scientists and engineers, calling the achievement a significant boost to India’s strategic and technological capabilities. DRDO Chairman Dr. Samir V. Kamat said the test reflected the organisation’s growing expertise in advanced propulsion systems and complex ground-test infrastructure. With this achievement, India moves closer to operationalizing indigenous hypersonic weapon systems, placing it among a select group of nations with proven scramjet propulsion technology.