India on Monday became the fourth country after the United States, Russia and China to successfully develop and test hypersonic technology from the APJ Abdul Kalam (Wheeler Island) test range in Balasore, Odisha, paving the way for missile development. traveling at six times the speed of sound. (Mach 6).
The test of the Hypersonic Test Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV), developed by the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) was carried out at 11:03 am today and lasted five minutes using the Agni missile booster.
According to leading government sources, this means that the DRDO will have the ability to develop a hypersonic scramjet-powered missile within the next five years, traveling at more than two kilometers per second. The test was led by DRDO chief Satheesh Reddy and his hypersonic missile team. The HSTDV performed on all parameters, including combustion chamber pressure, air inlet, and control guide.
The HSTDV design tested by the DRDO on Monday. (Image: DRDO)
At 11:03 am, an Agni missile booster carried the hypersonic vehicle to an altitude of 30 km, after which the latter broke away. Thereafter, the vehicle’s air intake was opened and this led to the successful ignition of the test scramjet engine. Combustion lasted more than 20 seconds and the vehicle reached a speed of Mach six. “The vehicle performed successfully on all predetermined parameters, including the ability to handle combustion temperatures of more than 2,500 degrees Celsius, as well as airspeed,” said a senior official.
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the DRDO immediately after the test and praised its efforts to indigenously build a scramjet engine.
He said it is a historic achievement towards the realization of the vision of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (Self-sufficient India).
“The @DRDO_India today successfully flight tested the hypersonic technology demonstrator vehicle using the locally developed scramjet propulsion system. With this success, all critical technologies are now in place to advance to the next phase, ”Singh tweeted.
the @DRDO_India today successfully flight tested the hypersonic technology demonstrator vehicle using the scramjet propulsion system developed in the country. With this success, all critical technologies are now in place to advance to the next phase.
– Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) September 7, 2020
“I congratulate DRDO on this historic achievement in realizing the vision of the Prime Minister of Atmanirbhar Bharat. I spoke with the scientists associated with the project and congratulated them on this great achievement. India is proud of them, ”the defense minister said in another tweet.
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