DRDL develops and tests Hypersonic Missiles in Hyderabad Facility
India conducted a successful flight-trial of an Advanced Agni missile with Multiple Independently Targeted Re-Entry Vehicle (MIRV) system from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha, on 8 May 2026. The missile was flight-tested with multiple payloads, targeted to different targets spatially distributed over a large geographical area in the Indian Ocean Region.
The telemetry and tracking were carried out by multiple ground and ship-based stations. These systems tracked the entire missile trajectory from lift-off till the impact of all payloads. Flight data confirmed that all mission objectives were met during the trial, the Ministry of Defence said on 9 May.
With this successful trial, India once again demonstrated the capability to target multiple strategic targets using a single missile system. This missile is developed by DRDO laboratories with the support of Industries across the country. The trial was witnessed by senior scientists of DRDO and the Indian Army personnel.
Separately, DRDO’s Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL) has achieved a path-breaking milestone in the development of Hypersonic Missiles by successfully conducting an extensive long-duration test of its Actively Cooled Full Scale Scramjet Combustor.
A run-time of over 1,200 seconds was achieved at the state-of-the-art Scramjet Connect Pipe Test (SCPT) Facility in Hyderabad on 9 May 2026, building upon the earlier successful test of over 700 seconds conducted in January this year, the Ministry said.
The Combustor has been designed & developed by DRDL and realised by industry partners. This successful test positions India at the forefront of advanced aerospace capabilities and continuously emerging war technologies.
“The remarkable feat is achieved through cutting-edge supersonic air-breathing engine, which utilises indigenously developed liquid hydrocarbon endothermic fuel, High temperature Thermal Barrier coating & advanced manufacturing processes,” the Ministry said.
“The ground-tests conducted at the SCPT facility have successfully validated the design of advanced active cooled scramjet combustor as well as the capabilities of state-of-art test facility,” it added.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has complimented DRDO, industry partners and academia on the successful ground-test of Full Scale Actively Cooled Long Duration Scramjet Engine. He described the two achievements as a solid foundation for the nation’s Hypersonic Cruise Missile Development Program.
Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Dr Samir V Kamat also congratulated the teams associated with the tests. Fiinews.com
