India moves closer to hypersonic missiles with successful DRDO test

Hyderabad: The Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) the Hyderabad-based lab of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) achieved a path-breaking milestone in hypersonic missile technology on Friday.

DRDL successfully conducted an extensive long-duration ground test of its Actively Cooled Scramjet Full Scale Combustor, achieving a runtime of over 12 minutes at its state-of-the-art Scramjet Connect Pipe Test (SCPT) Facility. This builds on an earlier subscale test conducted on April 25, 2025, and marks a crucial step forward in hypersonic missile development. The combustor and test facility were designed by DRDL and realized by industry partners, positioning India at the forefront of advanced aerospace capabilities.

“Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL), the Hyderabad-based laboratory of DRDO, has achieved a path-breaking milestone in the development of Hypersonic Missiles. DRDL successfully conducted an extensive long-duration ground test of its Actively Cooled Scramjet Full Scale Combustor at its state-of-the-art Scramjet Connect Pipe Test (SCPT) Facility on 9 Jan 2026,” the Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on social media.

Hypersonic cruise missiles can exceed five times the speed of sound (over 6,100 km/hr) for extended periods, powered by cutting-edge air-breathing engines that enable supersonic combustion for sustained flight. The SCPT tests have validated the advanced scramjet combustor design and the facility's capabilities.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO, industry partners, and academia, calling the achievement a solid foundation for the nation’s Hypersonic Cruise Missile Development Programme.