DRDO successfully conducts scramjet engine for hypersonic missiles

1. In January 2025, The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) made a major progress by successfully testing a scramjet combustor for 120 seconds.
2. This test showed India's development of hypersonic missiles.
3. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has called this test crucial in advancing next-generation hypersonic technology.
   1. Next-generation hypersonic technology refers to advanced technologies that enable the development of hypersonic vehicles capable of traveling at speeds greater than Mach 5 (5  times the speed of sound, or over 3,800 miles per hour/6,200 km/h)

What Are Hypersonic Missiles? Hypersonic missiles are cutting-edge missiles that fly at speeds greater than Mach 5 (5  times the speed of sound). These missiles can change direction easily, which helps them avoid being stopped by current defense systems, making them a big leap in modern warfare.

What are Scramjets and Ramjets Engine and How It Work:

1. Ramjets are air-breathing engines that use the vehicle’s forward motion to compress incoming air for combustion.
   • They work efficiently at supersonic speeds (around Mach 3) but lose efficiency at hypersonic speeds (above Mach 5).
2. Scramjets (Supersonic Combustion Ramjets) are designed to operate at hypersonic speeds. Unlike ramjets, scramjets allow air to stay supersonic through the combustion chamber, enabling more efficient operation at higher speeds. This makes the design and operation of scramjets far more complex.
3. Challenges: Designing and operating scramjets is much more complex, as air must flow through the engine without slowing down, which presents many engineering challenges.

DRDO’s 120-Second Scramjet Ground Test:

1. The test, carried out by DRDO’s Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) in Hyderabad, successfully showed a scramjet combustor running for 120 seconds.
2. This was the first time such a test has been conducted in India.
3. The test showed that the scramjet combustor could sustain stable combustion at speeds of over 1.5 kilometers per second.
4. The combustor also used a new flame stabilization technique that keeps the flame steady in the engine’s high-speed airflow.

Achievements and Innovations:

1. Indigenous Fuel Development: The scramjet test used a specially developed endothermic fuel—a fuel that absorbs heat during combustion, improving the engine’s cooling and ignition processes.
2. This fuel was created by DRDL (Defence Research and Development Laboratory) in partnership with industry partners.
3. Thermal Barrier Coatings (TBC): DRDO also developed an advanced ceramic thermal barrier coating that can withstand the extreme temperatures generated during hypersonic flight.
4. This coating is capable of surviving temperatures higher than the melting point of steel, crucial for protecting hypersonic vehicles.

The Journey of Hypersonic Technology in India:

India has been working on hypersonic technology for over two decades, with significant progress in both scramjet engines and hypersonic systems.

1. ISRO’s Contributions:

   1. In August 2016, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) conducted the first successful flight test of its scramjet engine as part of the Air Breathing Propulsion Project.
   2. On July 22, 2024, ISRO carried out another flight demonstration of Air Breathing Propulsion Technology, where scramjet engines were mounted symmetrically on a Rohini Sounding rocket.
   3. ISRO is now focused on its Hypersonic Air Breathing Vehicle (HAVA) project, which aims to develop hypersonic vehicles for future space missions.
   4. Also, ISRO plans to use scramjet technology in future rockets to carry heavier payloads (satellites), as scramjets don’t need to carry oxygen as oxidizers like traditional rockets.

Organization	Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
Founded	August 15, 1969, replacing INCOSPAR (Indian National Committee for Space Research) formed in 1962.
Parent Department	Part of the Department of Space (DOS), Government of India, since 1972.
Founder	Dr. Vikram Sarabhai
Main Goals	- Develop space technology for national needs. - Focus on communication, weather, and resource management.
Key Achievements	- Created satellite launch vehicles (PSLV, GSLV). - Launched missions for navigation, communication, and weather.
Research Contributions	Promotes science and education in remote sensing, astronomy, atmospheric science, and space science.
Headquarters	Bengaluru, India
Key Centres	- Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC): Builds launch vehicles - U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC): Designs satellites - Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC): Launches satellites - Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC): Develops liquid and cryogenic engines - Space Applications Centre (SAC): Makes sensors for communication and remote sensing - National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC): Handles satellite data processing
Chairman	The Chairman of ISRO is also the Secretary of DOS and Chairman of the Space Commission, which makes space policies.

2. DRDO’s Hypersonic Technology:

   1. DRDO started working on hypersonic engines in the early 2000s and made significant progress in September 2020, when it successfully tested the Hypersonic Technology Demonstration Vehicle (HSTDV), which utilized the scramjet engine.
   2. In December 2020, DRDO opened its Hypersonic Wind Tunnel (HWT) facility in Hyderabad, which can simulate speeds between Mach 5 and Mach 12—one of the largest of its kind globally.
   3. February 2024 saw the successful testing of India’s first Hypervelocity Expansion Tunnel Test Facility by IIT Kanpur.
   4. This achievement places India among the few nations capable of advanced hypersonic testing.

Organization	DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation)
Parent Ministry	Ministry of Defence, Government of India
Vision	Empower India with advanced defence technologies and achieve self-reliance in critical defence systems.
Mission	Equip the armed forces with modern weapon systems based on the needs of the three services.
Key Achievements	- Missiles: Agni & Prithvi series - Light Combat Aircraft: Tejas - Multi-barrel rocket launcher: Pinaka - Air defence system: Akash - Radars and electronic warfare systems
Motto	"Balasya Mulam Vigyanam" (The source of strength is science, which drives the nation in peace and war)
Formation	Established in 1958 from the merger of Technical Development Establishment (TDEs) and Defence Science Organisation (DSO).
Growth	Started with 10 laboratories, now expanded to 41 laboratories and 5 Young Scientist Laboratories (DYSLs).
Research Areas	- Aeronautics, Armaments, Electronics, Combat vehicles, Engineering systems, Instrumentation, Missiles - Naval systems, Life sciences, Information systems, Agriculture
Major Projects	- Development of missiles, aircraft, radars, electronic warfare systems, and other critical technologies. - Ongoing projects for defence systems and technology advancements.

DRDO’s Future Projects in Hypersonics:

DRDO continues to work on several key areas of hypersonic technology, including:

1. Aero-acoustic studies for quieter hypersonic vehicles.
2. Frequency Selective Surfaces (FSS) using artificial intelligence to improve stealth and performance.
3. Reaction Control Systems (RCS) for better control of hypersonic glide vehicles.
4. Development of high-temperature fuels and advanced thermal coatings to withstand the extreme conditions of hypersonic flight.

Global Arms Race of Hypersonic Weapons:

Countries like the USA, Russia, China, and India are all developing hypersonic weapons.

1. China conducted a successful test of a nuclear-capable hypersonic glide vehicle in August 2021, which reportedly circled the globe before striking its target.
2. This test surprised US intelligence and highlighted China's growing capabilities.
3. The US first tested scramjet engines in 2002, and Russia and China followed with their own tests.
4. The rapid development of these technologies globally is due to their ability to counter missile defense systems and strike high-value targets with minimal detection.

 

Also Read
UPSC Foundation Course	UPSC Daily Current Affairs
UPSC Monthly Mgazine	CSAT Foundation Course
Free MCQs for UPSC Prelims	UPSC Test Series
ENSURE IAS NOTES	Our Booklist