The Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad-based arm of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), has reached a major breakthrough in hypersonic missile development, the Ministry of Defence announced. On January 9, 2026, DRDL successfully carried out a prolonged ground test of its Actively Cooled Full-Scale Scramjet Combustor, achieving a continuous run time exceeding 12 minutes at the advanced Scramjet Connect Pipe Test (SCPT) Facility.

This milestone builds on a previous long-duration subscale test conducted on April 25, 2025, marking a significant advancement in India’s hypersonic missile program. Both the scramjet combustor and the test facility were designed and developed by DRDL with support from industry partners. The successful trial places India among global leaders in cutting-edge aerospace technologies.

According to the official statement, the hypersonic cruise missile under development is capable of flying at speeds exceeding Mach 5, or over 6,100 kilometers per hour, for extended durations. This capability is enabled by an advanced air-breathing propulsion system that sustains flight through supersonic combustion. Ground testing at the SCPT facility has validated both the combustor design and the performance of the testing infrastructure.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh praised DRDO, its industry collaborators, and academic partners for the successful test, stating that it provides a strong foundation for the country’s Hypersonic Cruise Missile Development Programme. In a post on X, he described the achievement as a path-breaking milestone in hypersonic missile research.

DRDO Chairman and Secretary of the Department of Defence RD, Samir V Kamat, also congratulated the teams involved for their notable accomplishment. Separately, during a review meeting at DRDO headquarters on January 1, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh highlighted that DRDO-developed weapon systems played a decisive role in Operation Sindoor, underscoring the organisation’s commitment to protecting national interests.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from PIB.