The launch of PSLV-C62 of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) failed, but Monday also brought a good news for India. DRDL, the Hyderabad-based lab of the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), has completed a more than 12-minute long ground test of a full scale actively cooled scramjet combustor. This test is considered the heart of Hypersonic Cruise Missile (HCM). Most of the tests in the world last less than 100 seconds but India has made a record of 720 seconds (12 minutes). This is being said to be a step to take India forward in the hypersonic weapons race.
What is hypersonic missile?
Hypersonic missile travels at a speed 5 times the speed of sound. It is equipped with a scramjet engine which is an air-breathing engine and burns fuel by taking oxygen from the air. Unlike normal jet engines, it works at supersonic speed.
At Mach 6-7 the temperature reaches thousands of degrees. This system keeps the fuel or coolant cool by passing it through the engine walls, so that the engine does not melt. This is called active cooling. This test took place at the SCPT (Scramjet Connect Pipe Test) facility in Hyderabad, where the engine maintained continuous combustion for more than 12 minutes.
Ballistic VS Hypersonic
Ballistic missiles fly high and are easily tracked. Hypersonic cruise missiles fly low and take a fast and curved path and hence are easy to avoid radar. Systems like S-400 or Patriot find it difficult to track these fast missiles.
self-reliant india
This work is being done with 100 percent domestic technology and Indian industry partners, hence no foreign restrictions can be imposed on them. Let us tell you that China and America are also in this race while India is now moving forward rapidly.
DRDO’s hypersonic projects
LRASHM (Long Range Anti-Ship Missile) Its range is up to 1500 km and it starts with a solid booster, then goes into cruise and glide mode. This missile can also hit ships.
AL-HCM (Air-Launched Hypersonic Cruise Missile): Air-launched DCR (Dual Combustion Ramjet) reduces weight and improves air-breathing. Hot fuel can be injected from the ramjet into the scramjet.
Agni-1P 2 stage missile, solid propellant. Re-entry vehicle similar to C-HGB, boost glide manoeuvre, range 1500 km.
BM-04 With a 3 stage platform, based on Agni-P and advanced C-HGB with 4 control fins, it also has a range of 1500 km.
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