DRDO successfully tests full-scale scramjet engine for hypersonic missile programme

New Delhi, Jan 9: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Thursday achieved a major milestone in India’s hypersonic missile programme with the successful long-duration ground test of a full-scale, actively cooled scramjet engine. The test was conducted by the Hyderabad-based Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) at its Scramjet Connect Pipe Test (SCPT) facility on January 9. The scramjet combustor was operated for over 12 minutes, marking a significant step forward in the development of hypersonic cruise missile technology.

The achievement builds on an earlier long-duration subscale test carried out on April 25, 2025, and represents a critical advancement towards realising operational hypersonic missiles. The full-scale combustor and the specialised test facility were designed and developed by DRDL, with key components realised in collaboration with industry partners.

Hypersonic cruise missiles are capable of flying at speeds exceeding five times the speed of sound—over 6,100 km per hour—over extended durations. This performance is enabled by advanced air-breathing scramjet engines, which use supersonic combustion to sustain high-speed flight. The successful ground test validated both the design of the advanced scramjet combustor and the capabilities of the SCPT facility. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO, its industry partners and academia on the successful test, describing it as a strong foundation for India’s hypersonic cruise missile development programme. DRDO Chairman and Secretary, Department of Defence R&D, Dr Samir V Kamat, also congratulated the teams involved, calling the achievement a commendable step in strengthening India’s advanced aerospace and missile capabilities.