New Delhi: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully conducted a landmark long-duration ground test of a full-scale, actively cooled scramjet engine, marking a major milestone in India’s Hypersonic Missile Programme.
The test was carried out by the Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad, on January 09, 2026.
The extensive ground test of the Scramjet Engine was conducted at DRDL’s state-of-the-art Scramjet Connect Pipe Test (SCPT) Facility and achieved a continuous run time of over 12 minutes.
The successful demonstration validates critical technologies required for sustained hypersonic flight and represents a significant advancement in India’s indigenous hypersonic capabilities.
Also Read: DRDO RRU MoU Signed to Boost Defence and Internal Security Research
Scramjet Engine Ground Test Validates Long-Duration Hypersonic Propulsion
This achievement builds upon the earlier subscale long-duration ground test conducted on April 25, 2025, and marks a crucial step forward in the development of hypersonic missile systems.
The full-scale actively cooled scramjet combustor and the associated test facility were designed and developed by DRDL and realised with the support of Indian industry partners.
The successful validation of the Scramjet Engine places India among a select group of nations with proven hypersonic propulsion technologies and strengthens the country’s position at the forefront of advanced aerospace research.
Scramjet Engine Enables Sustained Hypersonic Cruise Missile Capability
A Hypersonic Cruise Missile is capable of travelling at speeds exceeding Mach 5, or more than 6,100 km per hour, for extended durations.
This capability is enabled by an advanced air-breathing Scramjet Engine, which operates on supersonic combustion to sustain high-speed flight over long distances.
The ground tests conducted at the SCPT facility have successfully validated both the design of the advanced scramjet combustor and the performance of the specialised test infrastructure, confirming readiness for future stages of hypersonic missile development.
Also Read: DRDO Engages MSMEs and Startups to Drive UP Defence Industrial Corridor Growth
Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO, its industry partners, and academia for the successful ground test of the full-scale actively cooled long-duration Scramjet Engine.
He stated that the achievement provides a strong foundation for India’s Hypersonic Cruise Missile Development Programme.
Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO, Dr Samir V Kamat, also congratulated the teams involved for their commendable accomplishment, highlighting the significance of the test in advancing India’s strategic defence technologies.
