DRDO's Scramjet Test Boosts India's Hypersonic Missile Program

• DRDO successfully conducted a long-duration ground test of its actively cooled scramjet combustor.
• The test, performed by DRDL in Hyderabad, achieved a run time of over 12 minutes at the SCPT Facility on January 9.
• This milestone is crucial for developing hypersonic cruise missiles, capable of exceeding five times the speed of sound.
• The air-breathing engine uses supersonic combustion for sustained long-duration flight, validating the advanced scramjet combustor design.
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh lauded DRDO, industry partners, and academia for this significant achievement, positioning India at the forefront of advanced aerospace capabilities.

Why It Matters: DRDO's successful scramjet test marks a major leap for India's hypersonic missile development.