Test of solid fuel ducted ramjet seen as boost for long-range air-to-air missiles.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation successfully carried out the flight demonstration of Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet technology from the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur, off the coast of Odisha, on Tuesday (February 3, 2026).

The test was conducted at around 10.45 a.m.

According to the Ministry of Defence, with this achievement, India has entered an elite group of nations possessing SFDR technology, a critical capability for the development of long-range air-to-air missiles that significantly enhance combat effectiveness and provide a decisive tactical edge against adversaries.

During the demonstration, all major subsystems, including the nozzle-less booster, solid fuel ducted ramjet motor and fuel flow controller, performed as expected. After initial propulsion by a ground booster to achieve the required Mach number, the SFDR system functioned seamlessly throughout the flight.

The system’s performance was validated through comprehensive flight data captured by multiple tracking instruments deployed by ITR, Chandipur, along the Bay of Bengal coastline. The launch was closely monitored by senior scientists from key DRDO laboratories, including the Defence Research and Development Laboratory, High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, Research Centre Imarat and ITR, the Ministry added.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO and the Indian industry partners on the successful demonstration, describing it as a major milestone in the country’s missile development programme and a boost to India’s defence preparedness.

Secretary, Department of Defence Research and Development and Chairman DRDO, Samir V. Kamat, also complimented the teams involved, lauding their dedication and technical excellence in achieving the complex SFDR flight test.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)