India on Wednesday successfully test-fired the Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV) from Abdul Kalam Island off Odisha coast.
Defence sources said the trial was conducted at 11.22 am form the Launch Complex 4 of the Abdul Kalam Island of the Integrated Test Range (ITR).
The HSTDV is dual-use technology project of the DRDO, which will have multiple civilian applications. It can be used for launching low-cost satellites and long-range cruise missiles.
The trial was carried out in the presence of the senior scientists of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and defence secretary Sanjay Mitra, sources added.
The aircraft forms an important component of the country’s ambitious programme for the development of a hypersonic cruise missile system.
Developed under a special project, HSTDV is an unmanned Scramjet robotic demonstration aircraft for hypersonic speed flight.
Under the HSTDV program run by the DRDO, a demonstrator flight vehicle has been conceptualised to demonstrate the Scramjet technology for a short duration of about 20 seconds, the sources said.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik congratulated DRDO for successfully test firing HSTDV. Talking to Twitter, Mr Patnaik said: ”HSTDV will bolsters India’s defence capability in air space.” (UNI)
