India Tests SFDR Ramjet, Joins Elite Missile Club at Chandipur
India Tests SFDR Ramjet, Joins Elite Missile Club at Chandipur
India demonstrates solid fuel ducted ramjet tech, entering an elite club of nations with long-range air-to-air missile capabilities from Chandipur.
The Defence Research and Development Organisation carried out a 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 occurred around 10:45 a.m. and showcased a system that, after an initial boost, sustained propulsion via the SFDR motor and fuel flow controller. Major subsystems—the nozzle-less booster, the SFDR motor, and the fuel flow controller—performed as expected. Data from multiple tracking instruments deployed by ITR, Chandipur, along the Bay of Bengal coastline, validated the flight.
Senior scientists from key DRDO laboratories including the Defence Research and Development Laboratory, High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, and Research Centre Imarat monitored the launch, highlighting the collaboration across facilities. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO and Indian industry partners, framing the demonstration as a major milestone in the country’s missile development program and a boost to defence preparedness. Secretary Samir V. Kamat, Chairman of DRDO, praised the teams for their dedication and technical excellence in achieving this complex flight test.
