India has made a big step forward in its ability to create very fast technology by successfully testing its own scramjet engine for a very long time – over 1,000 seconds. This important achievement, done by the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) in Hyderabad, which is part of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), is a key move in the country’s plan to build new kinds of very fast missiles.
The test happened at DRDL’s new Scramjet Connect Test Facility (SCPT) in Hyderabad on April 25, 2025. It follows a successful test in January 2025 that lasted for 120 seconds. This much longer test shows that India’s scramjet technology is becoming more developed and reliable.
Why Scramjet Technology is Important
Very fast cruise missiles, which can travel faster than five times the speed of sound (over 6,100 kilometers per hour), are seen as very advanced weapons because they can get past normal air defense systems. Scramjet engines, or very fast air-breathing engines, are needed to keep these missiles flying at very high speeds for a long time. Unlike normal jet engines, scramjets don’t have moving parts and use the missile’s high speed to squeeze the air coming in for burning fuel. Keeping the burning steady at such high speeds is a very difficult engineering problem, like “keeping a candle lit in a strong wind.”
What Happened in the Test
- Long Time: The scramjet engine was successfully tested for over 1,000 seconds, much longer than the 120-second test before.
- Cooling System: The test used a system where fuel was moved through pipes inside the engine to control the very high heat made during the fast burning. The fact that this system worked for so long is a big technological success.
- Facility Check: The test also showed that the new Scramjet Connect Test Facility (SCPT) works well. This facility is designed to copy the conditions of very fast flight.
- Team Effort: This achievement is the result of work by different DRDO labs, companies, and schools, showing that India is becoming more able to create its own advanced defense technology.
What This Means for India
This successful long-duration test makes it possible to do full tests of the engine in flight later this year. This brings India closer to making its Hypersonic Cruise Missile Development Programme a reality. These kinds of missiles would give India a big advantage because of their speed, ability to move quickly, and ability to get through modern air defense systems.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh praised the DRDO and everyone involved for this achievement. He stressed that the government is strongly committed to creating important very fast weapon technologies for the country.
India is now one of only a few countries, including the United States, Russia, and China, that are working on very fast technologies. This is a big step for India in becoming self-reliant and making progress in its defense abilities. This successful test not only proves the design of the long-lasting scramjet engine but also makes India stronger in the competitive field of very fast weapons.