In a major breakthrough for India’s defense capabilities, the Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL), a Hyderabad-based unit of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), successfully carried out a ground test of a scramjet engine for more than 1,000 seconds. This achievement, which took place on April 25, 2025, marks a significant milestone in India’s development of hypersonic weapon technology.
The test, conducted at DRDL’s newly built Scramjet Connect Test Facility (SCPT) in Hyderabad, focused on long-duration active cooled scramjet subscale combustor testing. This test builds upon an earlier successful test carried out in January 2025, which lasted for 120 seconds. The 1,000-second test indicates that India is on track to develop hypersonic cruise missiles (HCMs), which are capable of sustained flight at speeds greater than five times the speed of sound, or 6,100 kilometers per hour.
Hypersonic weapons are a new class of weapons with the ability to travel at extremely high speeds, making them difficult to detect or intercept. Powered by air-breathing engines, scramjets are essential in maintaining the required speeds for these weapons, allowing them to fly at high altitudes and maneuver at incredible velocities. The scramjet engine works by compressing incoming air at supersonic speeds before it is ignited, which produces thrust for the missile.
This successful ground test not only validates the design of the long-duration scramjet combustor but also proves the capability of the test facility itself, which plays a crucial role in advancing hypersonic weapon development. DRDO has worked in close collaboration with various industry partners and academic institutions to achieve this milestone, showcasing the combined efforts of India’s scientific and defense communities.
The scramjet test is a vital step in the development of India’s Hypersonic Cruise Missile Programme. As of now, there are few countries globally that have successfully tested and developed hypersonic weapons, with China and Russia being the primary competitors. India’s progress in this field is a significant leap towards strengthening its defense and strategic capabilities.
The Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh, commended DRDO, industry partners, and academic institutions for their contributions. He highlighted that the successful test is a testament to India’s commitment to developing critical hypersonic weapon technologies. Singh also emphasized that this achievement reflects the country’s growing prowess in the field of advanced defense technologies.
Dr. Samir V. Kamat, Secretary of the Department of Defence R&D and Chairman of DRDO, congratulated the team behind the achievement, specifically praising Director General (MSS) U Raja Babu and Director of DRDL, Dr. G.A. Srinivasa Murthy, for their leadership in demonstrating supersonic combustion for over 1,000 seconds. This success places India among the few nations that have made significant advancements in hypersonic technology.
With this successful test, the DRDO has taken a crucial step towards making the scramjet engine flight-worthy. The next phase will involve full-scale flight-worthy combustor testing, which will bring India closer to the operational deployment of hypersonic missiles.
This development has profound implications for India’s national security, allowing the country to potentially deter adversaries with cutting-edge weaponry that can reach their targets with minimal warning. As global military dynamics continue to evolve, hypersonic weapons are expected to become a key strategic asset in the coming years.
