India Achieves Breakthrough in Hypersonic Technology with Successful 12-Minute Scramjet Engine Test

New Delhi January 09, 2025 :- The Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL), a premier Hyderabad-based wing of the DRDO, has reached a transformative milestone in India’s quest for hypersonic weaponry. In a high-stakes ground test conducted on January 09, 2026, the laboratory successfully operated an actively cooled full-scale scramjet combustor for an unprecedented duration of over 12 minutes. This rigorous test took place at the advanced Scramjet Connect Pipe Test (SCPT) facility, proving the engine’s durability and thermal management capabilities under extreme conditions. This achievement scales up the successes of previous subscale trials from April 2025, signaling a major leap toward the realization of a fully operational Indian hypersonic cruise missile.

The technical significance of this test lies in the validation of air-breathing engine technology, which allows missiles to travel at speeds exceeding Mach 5 (over 6,100 km/hr). By utilizing supersonic combustion and advanced active cooling, the engine can sustain flight for extended periods—a feat that positions India among an elite group of nations possessing such sophisticated aerospace capabilities. The entire system, including the combustor and the testing infrastructure, was conceptualized by DRDL and brought to life through strategic collaboration with domestic industry partners.

Following the successful trial, Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh lauded the DRDO, industry stakeholders, and academia for their collaborative triumph. He emphasized that this milestone provides a “solid foundation” for the national Hypersonic Cruise Missile Development Program. Echoing this sentiment, Dr. Samir V. Kamat, Secretary of the Department of Defence R&D and Chairman of DRDO, congratulated the engineering teams for their commendable technical precision and commitment to advancing India’s strategic defense posture.