DRDO successfully flight-tested Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle

September 7, 2020

Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV) has been successfully flight-tested by The Defence Research and Development Organsation (DRDO). India now has become the fourth country in the world after the US, China and Russia to do such testing that would help missiles to travel at six times the speed of sound known as the hypersonic speed. The testing would lead to development of hypersonic cruise missiles.

What is HSTDV?

It is an unmanned scramjet demonstration aircraft that are used in hypersonic speed flights.
It will work as a carrier vehicle for hypersonic and long-range cruise missiles
It also has several applications such as low-cost launch of small satellites.
It weighs 1-metric-ton and having length of 5.6-meter (18-ft.).
It is a long air vehicle having a flattened octagonal cross section. It contains mid-body stub-wings and raked tail fins
It has a 3.7-meter rectangular section for air intake.
The scramjet engine (where combustion takes place) is fitted under the mid-body.
The aft body (rear part of the ship) serves as the exhaust nozzle.

Who is assisting India in developing HSTDV?

Israel has helped in wind tunnel testing,
Russia has provided help in research of the hypersonic propulsion.

Defence Research and Development Organsation (DRDO)

The DRDO is an agency working under the Department of Defence Research and Development in Ministry of Defence. Its primary work is do research and development in military. It was formed in 1958 by the merging Technical Development Establishment and the Directorate of Technical Development and Production of the Indian Ordnance Factories. The organisation is occupied with developing defence technologies including the aeronautics, electronics, land combat engineering, life sciences, materials, missiles, and naval systems.

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