India has taken a significant step forward in advanced missile and aerospace technology with the successful ground test of a full-scale, actively cooled scramjet engine conducted by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The test strengthens the technological foundation for India’s hypersonic cruise missile programme, placing the country among a small group of nations with credible hypersonic capabilities.

The test was carried out on Friday by the Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL), a Hyderabad-based laboratory under DRDO, and was described by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh as a “solid foundation” for the country’s future hypersonic weapon systems.

What Was Tested

According to the Ministry of Defence, DRDL successfully conducted a long-duration ground test of a full-scale actively cooled scramjet combustor, achieving a sustained runtime of over 12 minutes. This marks a major technological milestone, as sustaining stable combustion at hypersonic speeds remains one of the most complex challenges in aerospace engineering.

A scramjet (supersonic combustion ramjet) is an air-breathing engine designed to operate efficiently at speeds exceeding Mach 5—five times the speed of sound. Unlike conventional jet engines, scramjets have no moving parts and rely on the vehicle’s extreme forward speed to compress incoming air before combustion occurs.

The Defence Ministry described the test as “path-breaking,” noting that both the combustor and the test facility were indigenously designed and developed by DRDL, with realisation and fabrication support from Indian industry partners.

Why Scramjets Matter

Scramjet technology is considered the key enabler of hypersonic flight, particularly for cruise missiles that can sustain controlled flight within the atmosphere. Unlike ballistic missiles, which follow a predictable parabolic trajectory, hypersonic cruise missiles:

• Fly at lower altitudes
• Can manoeuvre during flight
• Are extremely difficult to detect and intercept
• Can evade most existing air defence systems

These features make hypersonic weapons strategically significant in modern warfare, offering the ability to deliver rapid, high-impact strikes with limited warning time.

Globally, only a few countries—the United States, Russia, and China—have demonstrated advanced hypersonic weapons that are close to or already operational. India’s progress in scramjet development is therefore seen as a critical step toward narrowing this technological gap.

Active Cooling: A Major Technological Challenge

One of the most notable aspects of the test was the active cooling system used in the scramjet combustor. At hypersonic speeds, temperatures can exceed 1,000 degrees Celsius, enough to melt conventional materials.

Active cooling involves circulating fuel or coolant through channels in the engine walls to absorb heat before combustion. Successfully sustaining this process for over 12 minutes indicates a high level of maturity in thermal management—a key requirement for operational hypersonic vehicles.

Defence scientists have long identified thermal stress and combustion stability as the biggest barriers to sustained hypersonic flight. The latest test suggests that DRDO has made substantial progress in addressing both challenges.

Building on Earlier Successes

The January 2026 test builds on a series of incremental achievements over the past two years:

• January 2025: DRDL conducted India’s first active cooled scramjet combustor ground test, sustaining combustion for 120 seconds
• April 25, 2025: A subscale scramjet combustor underwent a long-duration test, validating design improvements
• January 2026: The latest test scaled the technology to full operational size, with a runtime exceeding 12 minutes

This step-by-step approach reflects a cautious and methodical development strategy, reducing risks before transitioning from ground tests to flight trials.

Defence Minister’s Remarks

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh publicly congratulated DRDO, its industry partners, and academic collaborators for the achievement.

In a post from the Defence Minister’s Office, Singh stated that the successful test of the “Full Scale Actively Cooled Long Duration Scramjet Engine” provides a strong technological base for India’s Hypersonic Cruise Missile Development Programme.

His remarks underline the government’s strategic emphasis on indigenous defence technology and reducing reliance on foreign suppliers for critical weapon systems.

Strategic Context: India’s Hypersonic Push

India’s scramjet breakthrough comes amid growing global focus on hypersonic weapons, which are widely seen as the next frontier in military technology.

In November 2024, India announced the successful test-firing of its first long-range hypersonic missile off the Odisha coast. The missile, designed to carry multiple payloads over ranges exceeding 1,500 kilometres, demonstrated advanced terminal manoeuvres and high accuracy, according to official statements.

The missile was tracked using a combination of land-based, sea-based, and airborne sensors, with flight data confirming its ability to perform complex manoeuvres during the terminal phase.

While the missile tested in 2024 is believed to rely on different propulsion mechanisms, the successful scramjet test significantly strengthens India’s ability to develop next-generation hypersonic cruise missiles capable of sustained atmospheric flight.

Role of Industry and Academia

The Defence Ministry highlighted the role of Indian industry partners and academic institutions in realising the test hardware and infrastructure. This collaboration aligns with the government’s broader push under initiatives such as Atmanirbhar Bharat to create a domestic defence-industrial ecosystem.

By involving industry early in the development cycle, DRDO aims to shorten the transition time from laboratory success to production-ready systems.

What Comes Next

While the successful ground test is a major milestone, several challenges remain before scramjet-powered hypersonic missiles become operational:

• Integration of the scramjet engine with a flight vehicle
• Flight testing at sustained hypersonic speeds
• Guidance, navigation, and control at extreme velocities
• Materials durability over extended operational lifetimes

Defence analysts note that the transition from ground testing to successful flight trials is often the most demanding phase of hypersonic development.

Nevertheless, the latest achievement indicates that India has crossed a critical technological threshold.

Conclusion

The successful long-duration ground test of a full-scale actively cooled scramjet engine marks a significant leap forwardin India’s hypersonic technology roadmap. By demonstrating sustained supersonic combustion, advanced thermal management, and indigenous design capability, DRDO has laid the groundwork for future hypersonic cruise missiles.

As global competition in hypersonic weapons intensifies, India’s progress positions it as a serious contender in one of the most strategically important domains of modern military technology. While operational deployment may still be years away, the latest test confirms that India is no longer merely aspiring to hypersonic capability—it is actively building it.