DRDO tests hypersonic launch vehicle off Odisha

New Delhi, June 12

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The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) today said it launched a technology demonstrator vehicle to prove a number of critical technologies for futuristic missions from the Dr Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast.

“The missile was successfully launched. Various radars, telemetry stations and electro optical tracking sensors tracked the vehicle through its course. The data has been collected and will be analysed to validate the critical technologies,” a statement said.        

Sources, however, indicated that the test was not completed as desired. The test was carried out to check the functioning of the hypersonic scramjet engine vehicle. 

A hypersonic flight can, evade and outrun the enemy fire. The scramjet engine propelled vehicle can have multiple civilian applications, including launch of satellites. A hydrocarbon-fuelled scramjet engine developed by the ISRO had completed ground-based tests using moderate size hypersonic wind tunnel and conventional shock tunnel. After some laboratory tests, the initial flight of the vehicle was aimed at validating aerodynamics and aero-thermodynamics of the air vehicle and performance of the scramjet engine.  — TNS