Bhubaneswar: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Tuesday successfully demonstrated the Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) technology from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur, off the Odisha coast, marking a major milestone in India’s missile development programme.
The test, conducted at around 10:45am, places India among a select group of nations with proven SFDR capability. The technology is critical for the development of long-range air-to-air missiles and is expected to significantly enhance the Indian Air Force’s combat reach and tactical superiority.
During the flight trial, all key subsystems – including the nozzle-less booster, SFDR motor, and fuel flow controller – functioned as designed. After initial acceleration by a ground booster, the system achieved the required Mach number, following which the ramjet propulsion took over seamlessly.
Performance data collected through multiple tracking systems deployed along the Bay of Bengal confirmed the success of the demonstration, according to an official statement. Senior scientists from DRDO laboratories such as the Defence Research & Development Laboratory, Research Centre Imarat, High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, and ITR monitored the launch.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO and its industry partners for the successful test, describing it as a significant step towards strengthening India’s defence preparedness.
Dr Samir V Kamat, DRDO Chairman and Secretary, Department of Defence R&D, also praised the teams involved, acknowledging their contribution to advancing indigenous missile technologies.
