The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Friday successfully carried out a flight demonstration based on Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) technology from Integrated Test Range (ITR) Chandipur off the coast of Odisha.
“Successful demonstration of SFDR technology has provided DRDO with a technological advantage, which will enable it to develop long range air-to-air missiles,” a DRDO statement said. “At present, such technology is available only with a handful of countries in the world.”
Stating that all the subsystems, including the booster motor and nozzle-less motor, performed as expected during the test, DRDO stated that many new technologies were proven, including SFDR technology.
During the test, air launch scenario was simulated using a booster motor and subsequently, the nozzle-less booster accelerated it to the required Mach number for Ramjet operation, the statement explained.
The performance of the missile was monitored using the data captured by electro optical, radar and telemetry instruments deployed by ITR and confirmed successful demonstration of the mission objectives.
Third stealth frigate
Separately, the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE), Kolkata, carried out keel laying for the third stealth frigate for the Navy under Project-17A.
The ₹19,293 crore contract for three stealth frigates under P-17A was the largest ever order to GRSE from the Defence Ministry. The keel laying for the first frigate, INS Himgiri, was done on November 10, 2018 and the frigate was launched on December 14, 2020.
