Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) technology

Why in news?

• The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully carried out a flight demonstration based on Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) technology from Integrated Test Range (ITR) Chandipur off the coast of Odisha.

About the technology:

• The Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet is a missile propulsion system that includes a thrust modulated ducted rocket with a reduced smoke nozzle-less missile booster.
• In its current form, the SFDR-based missile first requires to be boosted into a high-altitude trajectory to simulate aircraft-launch conditions.
• Subsequently, the nozzle-less booster fires up and guides the missile through its desired trajectory.
• During the test, air launch scenario was simulated using a booster motor and subsequently, the nozzle-less booster accelerated it to the required Mach number for Ramjet operation.
• Successful demonstration of SFDR technology will enable DRDO to develop long range air-to-air missiles.
• At present, such technology is available only with a handful of countries in the world.

Prelims Question

Consider the following statements regarding Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet:
1.It has been developed by Indian Space research organisation.
2.It can be used to power air to air missiles.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1 only
(b)2 only
(c)Both 1 and 2
(d)Neither 1 nor 2

Answer to the Prelims Question