The Defence Analysis and Growth Organisation (DRDO) of India has achieved a major milestone with the profitable ultimate check of the Strong Gas Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) propulsion missile system. This check, carried out on December 13, 2024, marks the third profitable mission involving completely different courses of missiles using indigenous applied sciences inside a month.
The SFDR missile was launched from a static launcher on the Built-in Take a look at Vary (ITR) off the coast of Odisha. This check validated a number of vital elements of the missile, together with its superior propulsion system, steerage mechanism, and aerodynamic design. The missile efficiently flew at speeds exceeding Mach 3 and precisely neutralized its aerial goal, confirming that it met all mission targets.
The SFDR know-how is especially noteworthy because it permits for the event of long-range air-to-air missiles able to partaking fast-moving aerial targets at distances over 300 km. This functionality positions India as a pioneer on this superior missile know-how, which makes use of atmospheric oxygen for combustion, thereby lowering the necessity for onboard oxidizers and permitting for lighter missile designs.
This profitable check not solely demonstrates India’s rising self-reliance in protection know-how but in addition enhances its strategic capabilities in aerial fight eventualities. The SFDR system’s readiness for integration into superior missile programs may result in upgrades in current missiles just like the Astra sequence, probably growing their vary and effectiveness.
Along with the SFDR check, DRDO has just lately carried out profitable trials of different missile programs, together with:
Lengthy-range hypersonic missile: Efficiently examined on November 16, able to putting targets over 1,500 km away
Okay-4 submarine-launched ballistic missile: Efficiently flight examined from INS Arighaat on November 27, with a spread of three,500 km
These achievements spotlight a concentrated effort by DRDO to boost India’s defence capabilities via indigenous applied sciences throughout varied missile programs inside a brief timeframe.
With the profitable demonstration of SFDR know-how, DRDO is anticipated to deal with integrating this propulsion system into operational platforms. This development is essential for enhancing India’s air defence capabilities and will result in additional developments in long-range missile programs tailor-made for particular operational wants.
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