In a major step towards building the next generation of hypersonic missiles, India has successfully completed a ground test of the Scramjet engine, running it for more than 1,000 seconds.

This important achievement in hypersonic weapon technology was made by the Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL), a Hyderabad-based lab under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). On April 25, 2025, DRDL successfully carried out a long-duration ground test of an Active Cooled Scramjet Subscale Combustor for over 1000 seconds at the newly built, state-of-the-art Scramjet Connect Test Facility (SCPT) in Hyderabad. The ground test is a follow-up to a previous test that was reported for 120 seconds in January 2025. "With today’s successful test, the system will soon be ready for full-scale flight-worthy combustor testing," said DRDO. 

The Hypersonic Cruise Missile (HCM) is a type of weapon that can travel at speeds over five times the speed of sound (>6,100 km/h), powered by an air-breathing engine. The key to its long flight at such high speeds is supersonic combustion in the propulsion system, which keeps the missile flying smoothly for long durations. A recent test successfully confirmed the design of a scramjet combustor (a key part of the propulsion system) and the test facility used for it. This success is the result of teamwork between DRDO laboratories, industry partners and academic institutions. It marks an important step forward in India’s Hypersonic Cruise Missile Development Program, as announced by DRDO.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh praised DRDO, its industry partners, and academic institutions for their achievements. He highlighted that this success shows India's strong commitment to developing important Hypersonic Weapon Technologies for the country. Dr. Samir V Kamat, Secretary of the Department of Defence R&D and Chairman of DRDO, congratulated Director General (MSS) U Raja Babu, Director of DRDL Dr. GA Srinivasa Murthy, and the entire team for successfully demonstrating supersonic combustion for over 1000 seconds, using advanced technologies.