DRDO lab successfully conducts ground test for long-duration scramjet engine

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Friday successfully conducted a long-duration Active Cooled Scramjet Subscale Combustor ground test for more than 1,000 seconds at the newly built Scramjet Connect Test Facility in Hyderabad.
The ground test for scramjet engine, performed by DRDO's Defence Research & Development Laboratory, is part of the hypersonic weapon technology development.
In a statement, DRDO said: 'Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL), a Hyderabad-based laboratory of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has achieved a significant milestone in the field of Hypersonic Weapon Technology. DRDL has conducted long duration Active Cooled Scramjet Subscale Combustor ground testing for more than 1000 seconds duration at the newly built state of art Scramjet Connect Test Facility (SCPT) at Hyderabad on 25th April 2025.'
'The ground test conducted is in continuation of earlier test reported for 120 seconds in January 2025. With the today's successful test, the system will be soon ready for full scale flight worthy combustor testing,' it said.
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh complimented DRDO, industry partners and academia for such remarkable achievement.
He stated that 'today's success reflects our strong commitment in realizing critical Hypersonic Weapon Technologies for the nation.'
According to the DRDO, Hypersonic Cruise Missile (HCM) is class of weapons that can 'travel more than five times speed of sound (> 6100 Kmph) for long duration and is powered by air breathing engine.'
Air breathing propulsion systems having supersonic combustion plays critical role for long duration cruise conditions. This test validates the design of long duration scramjet combustor as well as test facility.
'It is an outcome of an integrated effort put by the DRDO labs along with industry and academia and paves a strong base for nation's Hypersonic Cruise Missile Development Programme,' the statement said.
First Published: 25 Apr 2025, 10:15 PM IST

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