DRDO successfully flight-tests solid fuel ducted ramjet booster missile

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Friday conducted a successful flight-test of the indigenously developed Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) booster missile system.

The indigenously developed missile was launched from a fixed launcher at Launch Complex-III of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) off the Odisha coast on Friday. 

The final test met all set parameters of the SFDR system with accuracy, validating the capability of the missile's engine, navigation system, and overall design.

The missile also achieved a speed of over Mach 3, ie, about 1 km per second and hit the target with precision.

Notably, this is the third successful missile test in a single month, showcasing India’s growing expertise in designing and building advanced missile systems using homegrown technology.

The successful final test of the SFDR propulsion system is a major milestone in the development of missile technology in the country.

The third successful missile test in a single month, the development of indigenous technology significantly enhances India’s ability to manufacture long-range air-to-air missiles.

The air breathing SFDR technology uses atmospheric oxygen to burn the ramjet’s solid fuel, thereby avoiding the need for the missile to carry oxygen.

This helps the missile travel faster and farther, giving it a big advantage in combat situations, especially in areal combat. This can be used to build long-range air-to-air missiles that can hit fast-moving aerial targets over 300 km away.

The successful development of the SFDR technology will be of use in building new missiles or improving existing ones, like the Astra missile. 

Incidently, India is also reported to be the first country to develop the advanced SFDR technology. 

Last month, India successfully tested a long-range hypersonic missile that can hit targets up to 1,500 km away. This was followed by the successful launch of the 3,500 km range K-4 missile from the submarine, INS Arighaat.

DRDO is working on different variants of the hypersonic missiles for the Army, Navy and the Air Force.