Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet

Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet
SFDR based missile during its second flight
TypeMissile propulsion system
Place of originIndia
Production history
DesignerDefence Research and Development Organisation
References[1][2]

Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) is a missile propulsion system currently being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation of India. The project aims to develop critical technologies required in the propulsion systems of future Indian long range air-to-air missiles.[3]

Description

The Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet is a missile propulsion system that includes a thrust modulated ducted rocket with a reduced smoke nozzle-less missile booster.[2] The thrust modulation in the system is achieved using a hot gas flow controller.[2] The system utilises a solid fuelled air-breathing ramjet engine.[1][4][5] It is an extremely long-range missile with a projected range of 350 km.[6] As per International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), this kind of propulsion system drastically enhances the range with higher average speed. The missiles which use such system are also able to carry larger payload due to absence of an oxidiser. Unlike solid-propellant rocket, the Ramjet takes up oxygen from the atmosphere during flight.[7][5][8]

Officially, the technology is being developed to power future Indian air-to-air missiles.[1] However, the technology can also be applied to surface-to-air missiles.[5]

In its current form, the SFDR-based missile must first be boosted into a high-altitude trajectory to simulate aircraft-launch conditions. Subsequently, the nozzle-less booster fires up and guides the missile through its desired trajectory.[1]

Development

The development of the SFDR started in 2013 and envisaged a five-year deadline to begin actual demonstrations.[4] The missile is being developed primarily by the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) and Research Centre Imarat (RCI) in Hyderabad.[4] High Energy Material Research Laboratory (HEMRL) developed the nozzle-less booster while the ramjet engine is being developed with Russian assistance.[5][9] Ground-based testing of the missile started in 2017.[2] As of 2023, the SFDR is among 55 high priority DRDO projects that have failed to meet project deadlines.[10]

Testing

  • SFDR was tested for the first time on 30 May 2018. This was the first time where a nozzle-less booster test was demonstrated in India.[11] The Economic Times reported that the missile test was partially successful as the second ramjet engine stage had failed to activate during the flight.[5]
  • The second test of the missile occurred on 8 February 2019, where its ramjet engine was successfully tested. The missile finally touched the ground after achieving the desired Mach number.[1]
  • DRDO conducts successful flight test of Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet Technology from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, Odisha on 5 March 2021. "All subsystems, including the ground booster motor, performed as per our expectations", DRDO officials said.[12]
  • Another successful test was carried out on 8 April 2022 .The test demonstrated reliable functioning of all critical components involved in the complex missile system and met all the mission objectives.[13]
  • In November 2022, SFDR successfully demonstrated fuel flow controller actuation during flight.[14]
  • Astra Mark 3 with solid fuel ducted ramjet propulsion was put to test flight in 2023, enabling the missile to intercept airborne threats over a very long distance at supersonic speed. The missile was configured with nozzle-less booster, thrust modulation system and a sustainer motor to deliver specific impulse in ramjet mode.[15]
  • On 13 December 2024, the DRDO successfully conducted the final test of the Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) propulsion based missile system from a static launcher at the Launch Complex-III of the Integrated Test Range in Odisha. The missile achieved a speed over Mach 3 and knocked out an aerial target successfully.[16]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Successful Flight Test of SFDR". Press Information Bureau, Government of India. 8 February 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d "DRDO Annual Report 2017". Defence Research and Development Organisation: 79. 2017.
  3. ^ "SFDR missile propulsion system successfully tested | India News - Times of India". The Times of India. 5 March 2021.
  4. ^ a b c Somasekhar, M. (10 February 2019). "India successfully tests Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet propelled missile". The Hindu Business Line. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  5. ^ a b c d e Pubby, Manu (2 June 2018). "India tastes only partial success in Ramjet test". The Economic Times. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  6. ^ Shukla, Ajai (5 March 2021). "DRDO joins exclusive club after long-range air-to-air missile test". Business Standard India. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
  7. ^ Sarkar, Shankhyaneel (5 March 2021). "DRDO successfully tests SFDR technology in a bid to develop long-range missiles". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  8. ^ "DRDO's Project SFDR proves that solid propellants are here to stay". FORCE India. Archived from the original on 29 May 2018. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  9. ^ Kulkarni, Sushant (5 March 2021). "DRDO successfully tests SFDR technology for missiles". The Indian Express. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  10. ^ Siddiqui, Huma (16 March 2023). "Ramjet Technology: India's Impressive Progress and the Future of Aerospace". Financial Express. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  11. ^ "Successful Flight Test of SFDR". Press Information Bureau, Government of India. 31 May 2018. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  12. ^ "DRDO conducts successful flight test of Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet Technology in Odisha's Chandipur". Times Now. 5 March 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  13. ^ "Another feat for DRDO as India successfully flight tests missile system SFDR booster". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 8 April 2022. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  14. ^ "Annual Report 2022-23" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. Government of India. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  15. ^ "Ministry of Defence – Year End Review 2023". Press Information Bureau. 22 December 2023. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  16. ^ Rout, Hemant Kumar (13 December 2024). "India rides high as missile with cutting-edge SFDR technology tested successfully". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
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