The Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL), based in Hyderabad and part of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), has made significant strides in the development of long-duration Supersonic Combustion Ramjet (Scramjet) powered hypersonic technology. Recently, DRDL successfully conducted a groundbreaking 120-second Active Cooled Scramjet Combustor ground test, marking a significant milestone in the development of next-generation hypersonic missiles.
Hypersonic missiles, capable of traveling at speeds exceeding Mach 5 (more than 5,400 km/h), represent a new class of advanced weaponry with the potential to bypass current air defense systems and deliver rapid, high-impact strikes. Nations such as the USA, Russia, India, and China are actively pursuing hypersonic technology, with Scramjets being key to these high-speed vehicles. Scramjets are air-breathing engines that can sustain combustion at supersonic speeds without the need for moving parts.
The successful ground test of the scramjet combustor showcased several significant achievements, including successful ignition and stable combustion. Maintaining ignition in a scramjet engine is likened to “keeping a candle lit in a hurricane.” The scramjet combustor incorporates an innovative flame stabilization technique that ensures continuous flame inside the combustor, even at airspeeds exceeding 1.5 km/s. Numerous ground tests and novel ignition and flame-holding techniques were employed to achieve this scramjet engine configuration, with Advanced Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation tools used for evaluation and performance predictions.
A major component of this breakthrough is the indigenous development of an endothermic scramjet fuel, a first for India, developed jointly by DRDL and the industry. This fuel offers dual benefits of improved cooling and easier ignition. The team also developed a special manufacturing process to meet the stringent fuel requirements at an industrial scale.
Another significant achievement is the creation of a state-of-the-art Thermal Barrier Coating (TBC), designed to withstand the extreme temperatures encountered during hypersonic flight. The new ceramic TBC, which has high thermal resistance and can operate beyond the melting point of steel, was developed in collaboration between DRDL and the Department of Science & Technology (DST) Laboratory. The coating, applied inside the scramjet engine using special deposition methods, enhances the engine’s performance and longevity.
With demonstrated capabilities in stable combustion, enhanced performance, and advanced thermal management, this breakthrough sets the foundation for the development of next-generation hypersonic missiles.
Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO and the industry on the successful scramjet engine ground test, calling it a critical milestone in the development of hypersonic missile technology. Dr. Samir V. Kamat, Secretary of the Department of Defence R&D and Chairman of DRDO, also praised the DRDL team and industry for demonstrating capabilities in stable combustion, enhanced performance, and advanced thermal management.
