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DRDL's successful ground test of scramjet combustor puts India alongside USA, Russia & China

Hyderabad: India has just made a major leap in hypersonic technology with the successful 120-second ground test of an active cooled scramjet combustor by the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL). This is a key step towards developing missiles capable of flying at speeds greater than Mach 5 (over 5,400 km/h, or five times the speed of sound), putting India in the race alongside global players like the USA, Russia, and China.

The test, the first of its kind in India, saw the ignition and stable combustion of a scramjet engine at supersonic speeds. DRDL’s new flame stabilisation technique ensured that the engine could maintain continuous combustion even at speeds exceeding 1.5 km per second.

A critical part of the success was the development of a unique fuel, made in India, which improves cooling and ignition.

Additionally, DRDL worked with the department of science and technology to create an advanced thermal barrier coating, designed to withstand the extreme temperatures of hypersonic flight, ensuring the engine’s durability and efficiency.

This breakthrough positions India as a strong contender in the global race for hypersonic missile technology, with experts hailing it as a game-changer for the country’s defence capabilities.

( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
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