Hyderabad: India took a significant leap forward in hypersonic propulsion technology as the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully completed a landmark ground test of an advanced scramjet engine system. The test, conducted for over 1,000 seconds, marks a major milestone in the development of air-breathing propulsion systems for future hypersonic cruise missiles.
The achievement was carried out by the Hyderabad-based Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), a key arm of DRDO, at its newly inaugurated, cutting-edge Scramjet Connect Test Facility. This extended-duration test builds on a previous milestone achieved in January this year, when the scramjet combustor was tested for 120 seconds.
India takes a major leap in #HypersonicTech!
DRDL, a Hyderabad based lab under @DRDO_India, successfully completed 1000+ sec ground test of Active Cooled Scramjet Combustor at its new #Scramjet Connect Test Facility. This paves the way for flight-worthy #HypersonicCruiseMissile… pic.twitter.com/9NwvvheehD
— Ministry of Defence, Government of India (@SpokespersonMoD) April 25, 2025
The success of the long-duration ground trial paves the way for full-scale, flight-worthy combustor testing and is expected to significantly accelerate India’s efforts to develop next-generation hypersonic weapon systems.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh hailed the achievement, lauding DRDO, its industry partners, and academic collaborators for the accomplishment. He described the test as a testament to the government’s unwavering commitment to advancing critical hypersonic technologies.
Hypersonic cruise missiles, capable of flying at speeds exceeding Mach 5, rely on air-breathing engines with supersonic combustion for sustained high-speed travel. The successful scramjet test validates not only the engine’s advanced design but also the robustness of the test infrastructure now in place.
This development positions India among a select group of nations making rapid strides in the race for hypersonic dominance.
