IIT Madras builds hybrid rocket Vertical Take-Off and Landing aircraft

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras have achieved a major breakthrough in developing a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) powered by hybrid rocket thrusters a technology that could have significant applications in both civil and defence aviation.

In a pioneering experiment combining a real-time hybrid rocket thruster with virtual simulation, the team successfully achieved the velocity required for a “soft landing” a critical capability for spacecraft and VTOL systems. The findings were recently published in the International Journal of Aeronautical and Space Sciences.

The study explores the feasibility of hybrid rocket motors for vertical landing platforms, highlighting their simplicity, safety, and throttling advantages over conventional liquid engines. Hybrid propulsion, which blends features of both solid and liquid systems, offers improved control and safety, making it an attractive option for advanced aerospace and defence applications.

“VTOL capability allows aircraft to take off and land vertically, removing the need for long runways,” said Professor P.A. Ramakrishna from IIT Madras’ Department of Aerospace Engineering. “It enables access to remote areas and rugged terrains where helicopters currently operate, but with higher speed, range, and efficiency.”

Ramakrishna said once the technology reaches commercial readiness, it could revolutionise air transport by decentralising operations and supporting rapid deployment in emergency, defence, and border operations. For the military, VTOL systems powered by hybrid rockets could provide high-mobility aircraft for reconnaissance, surveillance, and rapid response in areas without airstrip infrastructure.

The team plans to further develop a multi-degree-of-freedom landing platform and conduct hardware-in-the-loop simulations to enhance attitude stabilisation maintaining orientation during hover, takeoff, and landing.

The technology could first be implemented in fixed-wing UAVs, paving the way for next-generation air mobility and defence-ready aerospace systems.