Tue Jan 21 15:32:04 UTC 2025: ## DRDO Achieves Major Breakthrough in Hypersonic Technology
**New Delhi, January 22, 2025** – India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has made a significant advancement in hypersonic technology, successfully conducting a 120-second ground test of an active cooled scramjet combustor. This marks the first time such a long-duration test has been achieved in India.
The scramjet, a type of air-breathing engine capable of sustaining combustion at supersonic speeds, is a key component of hypersonic vehicles. The DRDO highlighted the successful ignition and stable combustion during the test as major achievements, showcasing the technology’s potential for use in hypersonic missiles.
The breakthrough, achieved by the Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL) in Hyderabad, involved several key innovations. These include the indigenous development of a novel endothermic scramjet fuel, offering improved cooling and easier ignition, and the creation of a state-of-the-art Thermal Barrier Coating (TBC) capable of withstanding extreme temperatures. The TBC, jointly developed by DRDL and the Department of Science and Technology (DST), surpasses the melting point of steel.
DRDO described the successful ignition within the scramjet as akin to “keeping a candle lit in a hurricane,” emphasizing the complexity of maintaining a flame at supersonic air speeds exceeding 1.5 km/s. The organization employed innovative flame stabilization techniques to overcome this challenge.
Hypersonic missiles, capable of travelling at speeds exceeding Mach 5 (over 5,400 km/hr), are a focal point of military research globally, with nations like the U.S., Russia, and China actively pursuing the technology. This successful test by DRDO positions India at the forefront of this critical area of defence development.
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