India’s Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL) has achieved a significant milestone with a recent longer-duration ground test of a scramjet engine combustor. This advanced technology is crucial for powering hypersonic weapons, capable of reaching speeds exceeding Mach 5, equivalent to more than 6,174 kilometers or 3,836 miles per hour.
The latest test, which extended beyond 16 minutes, marks a considerable improvement over a previous test conducted in January that lasted just 120 seconds. It took place at the newly-established Scramjet Connect Test Facility located in Hyderabad, in southern India. According to a press release from the Ministry of Defence (MoD), this successful test will enable preparations for “full scale flight worthy combustor testing.”
Scramjets represent a cutting-edge evolution of traditional ramjet engines. They utilize an air-breathing system that achieves higher speeds and greater fuel efficiency by enabling combustion at supersonic speeds. In contrast, ramjets require airflow to be slowed to subsonic speeds before combustion occurs. The DRDL’s recent test incorporated an “innovative flame stabilization technique” which effectively maintains the flame within the combustor at an airspeed exceeding 1.5 kilometers (nearly one mile) per second.
Noteworthy components used in this test include an indigenously-developed endothermic scramjet fuel that enhances cooling capacity and simplifies the ignition process, as well as a thermal barrier coating designed to withstand extreme heat conditions.
The MoD emphasized that the test successfully validates both the design of the long-duration scramjet combustor and the capabilities of the testing facility itself. This achievement is attributed to a collaborative effort involving various labs within the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), along with partnerships from industry and academia. Such advancements lay a solid foundation for India’s ongoing Hypersonic Cruise Missile Development Programme.
