Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR)

In News

• Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully flight tested Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) booster at the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur off the coast of Odisha.

About Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR)

• It has been developed by Defence Research and Development Laboratory, Hyderabad, in collaboration with other DRDO laboratories such as Research Centre Imarat, Hyderabad and High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, Pune.
• The SFDR-based propulsion enables the missile to intercept aerial threats at very long range at supersonic speeds.
•  The test successfully demonstrated the reliable functioning of all critical components involved in the complex missile system and met all the mission objectives.
  • The performance of the system has been confirmed from the data captured by a number of instruments like telemetry, radar and electro Optical tracking systems deployed by ITR. 
• Significance: 
  • It is an important milestone towards development of critical missile technologies in the country.
  • The major difference between this missile and the regular air-to-air missiles is the air-breathing ramjet propulsion technology, which helps propel the missile at high supersonic speeds (above Mach 2) for engaging targets at long ranges.

Ramjet

• It is a form of air-breathing jet engine that uses the engine’s forward motion to compress incoming air without an axial compressor or a centrifugal compressor.
• Because ramjets cannot produce thrust at zero airspeed, they cannot move an aircraft from a standstill.
• A ramjet-powered vehicle, therefore, requires an assisted take-off like a rocket assist to accelerate it to a speed where it begins to produce thrust. Ramjets work most efficiently at supersonic speeds around Mach 3. 

Source:BS