DRDO's Successful Test of the Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV)

The HSTDV was put to test at the APJ Abdul Kalam testing range (Wheeler Island) in Odisha’s Balasore. With this test, India joined the elite group of countries, including the US, Russia, and China, that have developed and tested technology for missiles that can travel at six times the speed of sound. The HSTDV was launched using the Agni missile booster which propelled the cruise vehicle to an altitude of 30 Km. At this height, the aerodynamic heat shields were separated at hypersonic speed, followed by the separation of the launch vehicle and the cruise vehicle. The hypersonic combustion was sustained, and the cruise vehicle continued on its desired flight path at a velocity of six times the speed of sound (Mach 6), covering nearly 2 km in more than 20 seconds. Ethylene fuel was used by the scramjet combustor for this test.

Monitoring the Successful Test of the Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV)

The successful test of the HSTDV was monitored using various methods including a ship deployed in the Bay of Bengal to monitor the performance during the cruise phase of the hypersonic vehicle, multiple tracking radars, and electro-optical systems.

Successful Testing of Critical Technologies in the Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV)

The successful test of the HSTDV marked India's entry into an elite club of nations that have successfully tested HSTDV. This achievement was possible due to advancements in developing critical technologies. These technologies include the thermo-structural characterisation of high-temperature materials, separation mechanism at hypersonic velocities, sustained combustion at Hypersonic flow, use of scramjet propulsion for ignition, aerodynamic configuration for hypersonic manoeuvers, and the successful opening of the air-intake of the HSTDV as planned once it left the launch vehicle.

Advantages of DRDO's Successful Test of the Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV)

The successful test of the HSTDV has several advantages. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has demonstrated capabilities for highly complex technology that will serve as the building block for NextGen Hypersonic vehicles and cruise missiles. It can also potentially be used for launching satellites at a low cost. This successful test is a significant step forward for the development of air-breathing technologies in India.

Scramjet Engines

A scramjet (supersonic-combustion ramjet) is a type of ramjet airbreathing jet engine where the airflow through the engine remains supersonic. Scramjet powered vehicles are envisioned to operate at speeds up to at least Mach 15. Scramjets rely on high vehicle speed to compress the incoming air forcefully before combustion. Unlike a typical jet engine, such as a turbojet or turbofan engine, a scramjet does not use rotating, fan-like components to compress the air. The achievable speed of the aircraft moving through the atmosphere causes the air to compress within the inlet, eliminating the need for moving parts in a scramjet.

Ramjet Engines

A ramjet is a form of airbreathing jet engine that uses the engine’s forward motion to compress incoming air without an axial compressor or a centrifugal compressor. A ramjet-powered vehicle requires an assisted take-off like a rocket assist to accelerate it to a speed where it begins to produce thrust. Ramjets work most efficiently at supersonic speeds around Mach 3 (2,300 mph; 3,700 km/h) and can operate up to speeds of Mach 6 (4,600 mph; 7,400 km/h).

Speed Classifications

When referring to missile technology or space technology, it's common to come across different types of speed namely subsonic speed, supersonic speed, and hypersonic speed. The table below provides a simple comparison between these three types of speeds in terms of mach number and kilometers per hour (Km/hr).