In a major boost to India’s hypersonic weapons capability, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully conducted a long-duration ground test of a full-scale, actively cooled scramjet engine combustor, marking a significant milestone in the Hypersonic Missile Programme.
The test was carried out by the Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad—one of DRDO’s premier laboratories—at its state-of-the-art Scramjet Connect Pipe Test (SCPT) Facility on January 9, 2026. The scramjet combustor achieved a continuous run time of over 12 minutes, demonstrating sustained hypersonic combustion performance.
Breakthrough in Hypersonic Propulsion Technology
This path-breaking achievement builds upon the earlier subscale long-duration scramjet test conducted on April 25, 2025, and represents a critical advancement towards the realization of operational hypersonic cruise missiles. Both the scramjet combustor and the SCPT test facility were indigenously designed and developed by DRDL, with realization support from Indian industry partners.
The successful validation places India among a select group of nations possessing advanced air-breathing hypersonic propulsion technologies, underscoring the country’s growing capabilities in cutting-edge aerospace and missile systems.
About Hypersonic Cruise Missile Technology
A hypersonic cruise missile is capable of flying at speeds exceeding Mach 5 (over 6,100 km/h) for extended durations. This extraordinary capability is enabled by a scramjet (Supersonic Combustion Ramjet) engine, which uses atmospheric oxygen for combustion, eliminating the need for onboard oxidizers and allowing sustained high-speed flight.
The successful ground tests at the SCPT facility have validated both the advanced scramjet combustor design and the performance of the high-enthalpy test infrastructure, marking a decisive step toward future flight trials.
Leadership Commends Achievement
Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO, industry partners, and academia on the successful ground test. He stated that this achievement provides a strong foundation for India’s Hypersonic Cruise Missile Development Programme and reflects the nation’s growing technological self-reliance in critical defence systems.
Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO, Samir V Kamat, also congratulated the teams involved for their commendable accomplishment and dedication.
Conclusion
The successful long-duration ground test of the full-scale actively cooled scramjet engine marks a transformational milestone in India’s hypersonic missile journey. With this achievement, DRDO has significantly advanced the country’s strategic deterrence and aerospace technology base, reinforcing India’s position at the forefront of next-generation defence capabilities.
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Source: PIB
