India Successfully Demonstrates Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet Technology for Long-Range Air-to-Air Missiles

The Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) on Tuesday successfully demonstrated Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) technology from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, off the coast of Odisha. The successful test, carried around around 10:45 AM, places India among a select group of nations with this advanced capability, enabling the development of long-range air-to-air missiles that provide a tactical advantage over potential adversaries. All subsystems of the missile, including the Nozzle-less Booster, Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet motor, and Fuel Flow Controller, performed as expected. The missile was initially propelled by a ground booster motor to the required Mach speed before the SFDR system took over. Flight performance was confirmed through data collected by multiple tracking instruments deployed along the Bay of Bengal coastline. The launch was closely monitored by senior scientists from DRDO laboratories, including the Defence Research & Development Laboratory, High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, Research Centre Imarat, and ITR. Secretary of Defence R&D and DRDO Chairman, Dr Samir V Kamat, congratulated all teams involved in the successful flight test. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also praised DRDO and the Indian defence industry for the achievement.