DRDO tests ramjet technology to help develop long range air-to-air missiles

Vijay Mohan

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 5

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully carried out a flight demonstration based on Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) technology from the Integrated Test Range Chandipur off the coast of Odisha on Friday, marking another step towards indigenous development of long range air to air missiles..

All subsystems, including the booster motor and nozzle-less motor, performed as expected, a statement issued by DRDO said. During the test, many new technologies, including solid fuel based ducted ramjet technology, were proven.

Successful demonstration SFDR has provided DRDO with a technological advantage that will be employed to develop long range air-to-air missiles. At present, this technology is available only with a handful of countries in the world.

A ramjet is a form of air breathing jet engine that uses the engine’s forward motion to compress incoming air without the use of a rotating turbine compressor as in aero-engines like turbo-jet of turbo-fan. Ramjets can operate up to speeds of Mach 6.

During the test, air launch scenario was simulated using a booster motor. Subsequently, the nozzle-less booster accelerated it to the required Mach number for ramjet operation.

The performance of the missile was monitored using the data captured by electro-optical, radar and telemetry instruments deployed at the test range and confirmed the mission objectives.

The launch was monitored by senior scientists of various DRDO labs, including Defence Research and Development Laboratory, Research Centre Imarat and High Energy Materials Research Laboratory.