Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), a Hyderabad-based DRDO facility, conducted the first successful scramjet combustor ground test.

Significance of the Test Conducted

• This marks a significant milestone in developing hypersonic missiles powered by scramjet engines.
• The test showcased key achievements, such as successful ignition and stable combustion.

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Scramjet Technology Development

• Developed by: Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad.
• Focus: Long-duration supersonic combustion ramjet (scramjet) technology.
• Technology Highlights:
  • Enables hypersonic speeds (greater than Mach 5).
  • Outperforms traditional air defense systems, making it harder to intercept.
• Global Context:
  • Nations like the US, Russia, China, and India are in a global race to develop hypersonic weapons.
  • Hypersonic missiles deliver rapid and high-impact strikes while evading current air defense systems.

Indigenous Development

• Endothermic Scramjet Fuel: Developed indigenously by DRDL in collaboration with industry partners.
• • Provides dual benefits:
    • Significant cooling improvement.
    • Ease of ignition.
• Thermal Barrier Coating (TBC): Developed using advanced ceramic technology to withstand extreme temperatures beyond the melting point of steel.
  • Jointly developed by DRDL and DST facilities.

About Sramjet Engine

• A scramjet engine is an improvement over the ramjet engine as it efficiently operates at hypersonic speeds and allows supersonic combustion. 

Scramjet Engine Features

• Air-Breathing Engine: Operates without moving parts, handling supersonic airflows at speeds of 1.5 km/second.
• Flame Stabilization: Uses innovative techniques to sustain continuous flames in extreme airflow conditions, likened to “keeping a candle lit in a hurricane.”
• Advanced Computational Tools: DRDO used Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations to predict engine performance and refine its design.

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Types of Engines for Missiles

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