India marked a significant milestone in defence technology on February 3, 2026, as the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully demonstrated Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) technology. The test was conducted from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur, off the coast of Odisha, placing India among a select group of nations possessing this advanced propulsion capability.
Successful Flight Demonstration at Chandipur
The SFDR technology demonstration took place at around 10:45 hrs from the ITR, Chandipur, along the Bay of Bengal coastline. The successful test validates a critical propulsion system that enables the development of long-range air-to-air missiles, significantly enhancing India’s aerial combat effectiveness and providing a decisive tactical edge against adversaries.
Subsystems Perform as Designed
During the demonstration, all major subsystems performed in line with mission expectations. These included:
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Nozzle-less Booster
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Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet Motor
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Fuel Flow Controller
The system was initially accelerated to the required Mach number using a ground booster motor, after which the ramjet propulsion took over. Performance validation was carried out using extensive flight data captured by multiple tracking instruments deployed by ITR along the coast.
Multi-Lab Scientific Oversight
The launch and its outcomes were closely monitored by senior scientists from several key DRDO laboratories, including:
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Defence Research and Development Laboratory
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High Energy Materials Research Laboratory
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Research Centre Imarat
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Integrated Test Range (ITR)
Their presence ensured real-time technical assessment and post-flight validation of system performance.
Leadership Commends DRDO and Industry
Rajnath Singh, Raksha Mantri of India, congratulated DRDO and its industry partners on the successful demonstration, acknowledging the achievement as a major step towards self-reliance in advanced missile technologies.
Further commending the effort, Samir V Kamat, Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO, congratulated all scientific, technical, and industrial teams involved in the successful flight test.
Strategic Significance of SFDR Technology
Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet technology allows missiles to maintain sustained high-speed cruise over long ranges, offering advantages such as:
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Greater engagement range
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Higher terminal energy
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Improved manoeuvrability
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Enhanced no-escape zones
The successful demonstration significantly boosts India’s indigenous capability to design next-generation air combat systems and reinforces its strategic deterrence posture.
Conclusion
The successful SFDR demonstration is a landmark achievement for India’s defence ecosystem, showcasing the growing maturity of indigenous research, development, and industrial collaboration. As India advances towards next-generation missile systems, this achievement underscores DRDO’s pivotal role in strengthening national security and technological sovereignty.
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Source: PIB
