Context: Recently, DRDO has successfully conducted the test of the Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) technology, which is crucial for the indigenous development of long range air-to-air missiles.
Need

• At present, such technology is available only with a handful of countries in the world.
• Air-to-air missiles which use SFDR technology can achieve longer ranges as they do not require oxidisers (take oxygen from the atmosphere).
• The missile based on SFDR fly at supersonic speeds and high manoeuvrability ensures the target aircraft cannot get away.

About Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) Technology

• The DRDO began developing SFDR first in 2017 and had conducted successful tests in 2018 and 2019.
• It is a missile propulsion system that includes a thrust modulated ducted rocket with a reduced smoke nozzle-less missile booster.
• The ramjet missiles use atmospheric oxygen rather than including an oxidizer as part of the solid motor.
• The missile, using the SFDR technology, accelerated to reach multiples of the speed of sound, also known as Mach.
• The missile is being developed primarily by the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) and Research Centre Imarat (RCI) in Hyderabad.

Significance

• The successful demonstration has provided DRDO with a technological advantage which will enable it to develop long range air-to-air missiles.
• The ramjet powered missiles provide greater range and a higher average speed compared to missiles powered by solid propellants.
• The ramjet missiles can carry a bigger warhead as they do not have to carry an oxidizer.

Additional Information

• Ramjet: It is a form of air-breathing jet engine that uses the vehicle’s forward motion to compress incoming air for combustion without a rotating compressor. Ramjets work most efficiently at supersonic speeds but they are not efficient at hypersonic speeds.