Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet
| Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet | |
|---|---|
 SFDR based missile during it’s second flight | |
| Type | missile propulsion system |
| Place of origin | India |
| Production history | |
| Designer | DRDO |
| References | [1][2] |
Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) is a technology demonstration project of the Defence Research and Development Organisation of India. The project aims to develop critical technologies required in the propulsion systems of advanced long range air-to-air missiles.
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][3][4] The current version of the missile system has a range of about 120 kilometres at an altitude of 8 kilometres, with a speed of 2.3-2.5 Mach.[2] This kind of a propulsion system drastically enhances the range and the speed of a missile since it does not require an oxidiser.[4]
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.[4]
In its current form, the SFDR-based missile first requires to 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.[3] The missile is being developed primarily by the Defence Research and Development Laboratory in Hyderabad.[3] The missile booster has been developed by DRDO independently while the ramjet engine is being developed with Russian assistance.[4] Gound-based testing of the missile started in 2017.[2]
Testing
- SFDR was tested for the first time on 30 May 2018. This test demonstrated a nozzle-less booster for the first time in India.[5] The Economic Times reported that the missile had failed to activate the second ramjet engine stage during the test.[4]
- 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]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e "Successful Flight Test of SFDR". Press Information Bureau, Government of India. 8 February 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b c d e "DRDO Annual Report 2017". Defence Research and Development Organisation: 79. 2017.
- ^ 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.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ 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.
- ^ "Successful Flight Test of SFDR". Press Information Bureau, Government of India. 31 May 2018. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)