DRDO Successfully test fires Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted a successful first test flight of the indigenously developed Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV). The test was conducted at the base off the Odisha coast. India now joins the elite club of US, Russia and China which possess this critical technology.

What is HSTDV?

Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV) is an unmanned scramjet (allowing supersonic combustion) demonstration vehicle that can cruise up to a speed of Mach 6 (or six times the speed of sound) and rise up to an altitude of 32. km in 20 seconds.

The HSTDV cruise vehicle would be mounted on a solid rocket motor, which will take it to a required altitude. Once it attains certain Mach numbers for speed, the cruise vehicle will be ejected out of the launch vehicle. It has a range of applications can be used for launching cruise missiles it will also serve the purpose for launching satellites at a low cost.