Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 05:24am on 04 Feb 2026,Wednesday Defence
India achieved a major technological breakthrough on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, when DRDO successfully demonstrated Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet technology from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, off Odisha's coast. This success places India among an elite group of nations possessing this advanced propulsion technology, crucial for developing long-range air-to-air missiles providing tactical advantage. Unlike conventional solid-propellant rockets, ramjets draw oxygen from the atmosphere during flight, eliminating heavy oxidizer requirements. This drastically enhances missile range with higher average speeds while enabling larger payloads. All subsystems including nozzle-less booster, ramjet motor, and fuel flow controller performed as expected. The technology will power the Astra Mk-3 missile with 350-kilometer range capability, strengthening India's indigenous defense capabilities.
