Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet

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.

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

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] As of 2017, 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][5]

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 (DRDL) in Hyderabad.[3] The missile booster has been developed by DRDO independently while the ramjet engine is being developed with Russian assistance.[4] Ground-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.[6] 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
  1. "Successful Flight Test of SFDR". Press Information Bureau, Government of India. 8 February 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  2. "DRDO Annual Report 2017". Defence Research and Development Organisation: 79. 2017.
  3. Somasekhar, M. (10 February 2019). "India successfully tests Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet propelled missile". The Hindu Business Line. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  4. Pubby, Manu (2 June 2018). "India tastes only partial success in Ramjet test". The Economic Times. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  5. "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.
  6. "Successful Flight Test of SFDR". Press Information Bureau, Government of India. 31 May 2018. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
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