DRDO successfully tests full-scale scramjet engine for Hypersonic missile programme

In a major boost to India’s strategic capabilities, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully conducted a long-duration ground test of a full-scale actively cooled scramjet engine at its Hyderabad-based Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL) . The test, carried out at the state-of-the-art Scramjet Connect Pipe Test (SCPT) Facility , lasted over 12 minutes , marking a significant milestone in the country’s Hypersonic Missile Programme .

The test builds on an earlier subscale experiment conducted in April 2025 and demonstrates India’s growing expertise in advanced aerospace and missile technologies . The scramjet engine, designed to enable hypersonic cruise missiles to exceed five times the speed of sound (over 6,100 km/hr) , uses supersonic combustion to sustain long-duration flight , making it one of the most advanced air-breathing propulsion systems in the world.

The DRDL, along with industry partners, developed both the combustor and the test facility, validating not only the engine’s design but also the capabilities of India’s testing infrastructure.

Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh congratulated the DRDO, its industry collaborators, and academic partners, describing the achievement as a “ solid foundation for India’s hypersonic cruise missile development program .” DRDO Chairman Dr Samir V Kamat also lauded the teams involved for this remarkable success.

With this achievement, India positions itself among the few nations capable of developing full-scale hypersonic missile engines , reinforcing its strategic defense capabilities.