INDIA'S FIRST HYPERVELOCITY EXPANSION TUNNEL TEST FACILITY

 

1. In February 2024, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, has successfully tested India’s first Hypervelocity Expansion Tunnel Test Facility (HETTF).
2. The facility was developed through collaborative efforts involving the Aeronautical Research and Development Board (ARDB), DST, and the Hypersonic Experimental Aerodynamics Laboratory (HEAL) of IIT-Kanpur.
3. This achievement positions India among a select few nations possessing advanced hypersonic testing capabilities.

        About Hypervelocity Expansion Tunnel Test Facility (HETTF):

1. The S2, nicknamed 'Jigarthanda', is a 24-meter-long facility located at IIT Kanpur’s Hypersonic Experimental Aerodynamics Laboratory (HEAL) within the Department of Aerospace Engineering. 

2. The facility is capable of generating flight speeds ranging from 3 to 10 km/s, simulating hypersonic conditions, which is crucial for various applications such as atmospheric entry of vehicles, asteroid entry, scramjet flights, and ballistic missiles.

         Key points:

1. Significance: Marks an important step towards India's goal of self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat).
2. Achievement: India joins a select group of countries with advanced hypersonic testing capabilities.
3. Developer: Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur (IIT Kanpur).
4. Funding: The Department of Science & Technology (DST) supported the project with Rs 4.5 crores under the Fund for Improvement in S&T Infrastructure (FIST) in 2018.
5. Purpose: It supports ISRO and DRDO missions, including Gaganyaan, Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV), and hypersonic cruise missiles.
6. Components: The facility comprises a free piston driver, a compression tube, a shock/acceleration tube, and a test section with a high vacuum system for creating hypersonic flow.
7. Impact: Enhances India's capacity in hypersonic research, aiding in the optimization of current and future defense and space missions.
8. Global Positioning: Establishes India as a leader in experimental hypersonic research, advancing the country's space and defense capabilities.

About Aeronautical Research and Development Board (ARDB): Purpose and Function: The ARDB serves as the national body responsible for coordinating and funding futuristic research and development programs in the field of Aeronautics. Establishment: Formed in 1971 by the Government of India, the ARDB was established following the recommendations of the Subramanian Committee report. Replaced Entities: The ARDB replaced the Aeronautical Research Council of CSIR and the Aeronautical Research and Development Panel of DRDO, consolidating and streamlining the nation's aeronautical research efforts under a unified authority.

         Conclusion:

1. The establishment of India’s pioneering Hypervelocity Expansion Tunnel Test Facility, named 'Jigarthanda', signifies a notable advancement in aerospace research.
2. Its indigenous development has the capacity to enhance India's prominence in hypersonic technology and reinforce its defense and space industries.

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