The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) claimed that its ambitious project to develop a hypersonic vehicle would have its critical test in December 2016.

DRDO Chief Dr S Christopher said the 20-22 second test of the Hypersonic Test Demonstration Vehicle (HSTDV) would be crucial for the hypersonic missile programme.

As a run-up to developing the missile, Dr Christopher said that successful trials were conducted at the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory of DRDO situated in Chandigarh.

DRDO had formed the HSTDV Project Directorate at Dr A P J Abdul Kalam Missile Complex in Hyderabad in 2005.

HSTDV (Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle)

Project HSTDV is a technology demonstrator aimed to demonstrate autonomous Flight of a Scramjet Integrated Vehicle using kerosene. The related technologies are new not only for India but for the entire aerospace community in the world and have potential applications in the areas of civil, military and space sectors. A demonstrator flight vehicle has been conceptualise to demonstrate the Scramjet technology for a short duration of about 20 seconds.

Mission

Mach No
6.5

Altitude
32.5 KM

Flight duration of cruise vehicle
20 seconds