Overview
- DRDL conducted the long‑duration ground test at the Scramjet Connect Pipe Test facility in Hyderabad on January 9, achieving sustained operation for more than 12 minutes.
- The Defence Ministry said the run validated both the advanced scramjet combustor design and the performance of the specialised SCPT infrastructure.
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and DRDO chief Samir V. Kamat hailed the result as a solid foundation for India’s Hypersonic Cruise Missile Development Programme.
- Officials noted the achievement builds on a long‑duration subscale scramjet test conducted on April 25, 2025, marking a crucial step toward operational hypersonic cruise missiles.
- DRDL designed the full‑scale combustor and test facility with support from Indian industry and academia, feeding ongoing programmes such as Project Vishnu and the Dhwani glide vehicle.