DRDO successfully flight-tests solid fuel ducted ramjet technology for air-to-air missiles
08 Mar 2021
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) today successfully carried out a flight demonstration based on Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) technology from the Integrated Test Range Chandipur off the coast of Odisha at around 1030 hrs.
DRDO said all the subsystems, including the booster motor and nozzle-less motor, performed as expected. During the test, many new technologies were proven, including Solid Fuel based Ducted Ramjet technology, it added.
The successful demonstration of Solid Fuel based Ducted Ramjet technology will enable DRDO to develop long range air-to-air missiles. At present, such technology is available only with a handful of countries in the world.
During the test, air launch scenario was simulated using a booster motor. Subsequently, the nozzle-less booster accelerated it to the required Mach number for Ramjet operation.
The performance of the missile was monitored using data captured by electro optical, radar and telemetry instruments deployed by ITR and confirmed successful demonstration of the mission objectives. The launch was monitored by senior scientists of various DRDO labs, including Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL), Research Centre Imarat (RCI) and High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL).
Defence minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO scientists, Indian Air Force and the industry on the successful flight test of SFDR.
Secretary Department of Defence R&D and chairman DRDO G Satheesh Reddy also congratulated the team involved in the successful flight test.