DRDO Successfully Flight Tested HSTDV

DefenceXP September 7, 2020

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In a historic mission today, India successfully flight tested Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV), a giant leap in indigenous defence technologies and significant milestones towards a Sashakt Bharat and Atmanirbhar Bharat.

DRDO with this mission has demonstrated capabilities for highly complex technology that will serve as the building block for NextGen Hypersonic vehicles in partnership with industry.

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Watch: DRDO‘s successful demonstration of the Hypersonic air-breathing scramjet technology with the flight test of Hypersonic Technology Demonstration Vehicle, at 1103 hours today from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Launch Complex at Wheeler Island, off the coast of Odisha.. 🇮🇳 ♥ 🇮🇳 #DRDO #HSTDV #Test #JaiHind

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DRDO Chairman congratulated all the Scientists, Researchers, and other personnel-related with #HSTDV mission for their resolute and unwavering efforts towards strengthening the Nation’s defence capabilities.
Defence Minister said with this success, all critical technologies are now established to progress to the next phase. RM spoke to the scientists associated with the project and said the Country is proud of them.

Also Read, Atmanirbhar Bharat: The Beginning of the End of the Era of Imports

What Is HSTDV?

The HSTDV is an unmanned scramjet demonstration aircraft for hypersonic speed flight. It is being developed as a carrier vehicle for hypersonic and long-range cruise missiles and will have multiple civilian applications including the launching of small satellites at low cost.
The HSTDV program is run by the Indian Defence Research and Development Organisation
On June 12, 2019, it was tested from Abdul Kalam Island by the Defence Research and Development Organisation. With the scramjet engine, it can cruise at Mach 6. It was test-fired from launch pad number-4 of Integrated Test Range (ITR) at the Abdul Kalam Island in the Balasore district of Odisha at 11:27 AM.
According to some unconfirmed reports, the test was a partial success since, allegedly, the Agni-I ballistic carrier vehicle on which the HSTDV was to receive its altitude boost didn’t complete the mission. This was supposedly due to ‘weight issues’.
The rumors, however, were unconfirmed. According to the official statement by the Ministry of Defence, “the missile was successfully launched” and the data collected will be analyzed to “validate critical technologies”.

Also Read, DRDO 108 Military Systems List For Production