The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Tuesday successfully demonstrated a next-generation technology that can enable missiles to travel longer distances.Called the Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) technology, the test was conducted at the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, off the coast of Odisha.The SFDR is an advanced missile propulsion system that combines a solid-fuel, air-breathing ramjet engine with a booster, enabling long-range, high-speed flight of up to Mach 3. It enhances range and payload capacity by using atmospheric oxygen instead of carrying a heavy oxidiser.The Ministry of Defence said the successful demonstration places India in an elite group of nations possessing this technology, which is crucial for developing long-range air-to-air missiles and providing a tactical edge over adversaries.All subsystems, including the nozzle-less booster, SFDR motor and fuel flow controller, performed as expected after the system was initially propelled to the required speed by a ground booster.The system’s performance was validated through flight data captured by multiple tracking instruments deployed by ITR Chandipur along the Bay of Bengal coast. The launch involved scientists from several DRDO laboratories, including the Defence Research & Development Laboratory, High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, Research Centre Imarat and ITR.Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO and the industry partners on the successful demonstration of the SFDR technology.