Breakthroughs in hypersonic, engine and key challenges

A hypersonic boom, which could propel the Extended Trajectory-Long Duration Hypersonic Cruise Missile (ET-LDHCM) up to Mach 8-10, to next-gen AESA, and applying quantum sensing to anti-submarine warfare, DRDO is proving its R&D within its rights. Manish Kumar Jha writes on the comprehensive range of military technology development, some of which is futuristic and ground-breaking for India. 

The DRDO is India’s sole R&D agency for defence. The ambition that India harbours in achieving self-reliance in defence technologies largely depends on the DRDO.

DRDO does receive a good deal of the criticism for the delays over the projects — stalled projects or the ambiguous timeline for some high-tech projects. But the interesting proposition is that what India does have largely in terms of its indigenous military platforms is mostly from the house of the DRDO.

The DRDO received a total budget of Rs 26,817 crore. Out of which Rs 14,924 crore is allocated for capital expenditure and to fund R&D projects. This funding is intended to bolster DRDO’s efforts in developing new technologies, with a focus on fundamental research and partnerships with private companies–through Development-cum Production Partner (DcPP) model.

A mere focus on defence will not provide a realistic analysis. India spends 0.8% of its GDP on all R&D and has 156 researchers per million population.

In comparison, the USA spends 2.8% of its GDP on all R&D and has 4,231 researchers per million population. China spends 2.0% of its GDP on R&D and has 1,113 researchers per million population, while Israel spends 4.8% of its GDP on R&D and has 8,255 researchers per million population. The other OECD countries, South Korea, etc all outperform India on the above parameters.

Within such parameters, what are the new developments, advanced technologies, systems, and platforms that DRDO is striving to achieve? The comprehensive sketch on such matters is so critical, especially in the emerging mode of warfare, with heavy shift and dominance of autonomous systems, largely unmanned systems based on hypersonic precision, aerial drones to underwater, sub-surface systems to space-based military equipment.

I take a comprehensive and factual account of such development in critical areas—some ground-breaking breakthroughs, some challenges, and expectations on advanced and futuristic military technologies underway.

Hypersonic technology

Hypersonic Cruise Missile is a class of weapons that can travel more than 5 times the speed of sound (> 6100 Kmph) for a long duration and is powered by a scramjet, i.e., air-breathing engine. The scramjet engine will enable critical hypersonic weapon technology for India. How complex and indigenous is the scramjet engine development, and how will it be a pivotal factor for DRDO’s next-generation missile advancement?

Air-breathing propulsion systems, having supersonic combustion, play a critical role in long-duration cruise conditions.

In the field of Hypersonic Weapon Technology, India has conducted long-duration Active Cooled Scramjet Subscale Combustor ground testing. The development of this scramjet engine is fully indigenous. It will be truly a force, as the hypersonic missiles are very difficult to track and intercept. It gives you an assured retaliation capability, even if the other country has good air defence.

India is working on two types of hypersonic missiles, hypersonic glide missiles and hypersonic cruise missiles.

DRDO has finished one development trial of Hypersonic glide missiles, and in the next 2-3 years, we should be able to complete its development and will offer it to the Users.

The development of Hypersonic Cruise missiles, which is based on scramjet, DRDO has proven on the ground; However, it is yet to be proven in flight.

What is next?

Then there are other challenges for the cruise missiles, and in the next 5 years, it will be converted into a weapon system.

Globally, hypersonic missiles are being flown by a select few countries in the world, but they are not hypersonic cruise missiles. They are flying hypersonic glide missiles only.

In the existing missile capabilities, Akash worked and proved, showing the efficacy, testing and credibility in real real-time situation. What is next after Akash?

Currently, user trials of Akash NG are going on, which will be the next generation, Akash. India became the first country to demonstrate the capability of engagement of 04 aerial targets simultaneously at 25Km ranges by command guidance using a single firing unit by the Akash Weapon System.  Further, Akash with a longer-range capability will add firepower. Then there is Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile (QRSAM), which is going to be inducted soon.

Futuristic Indian Radar Systems for AMCA

Another crucial are which is evident is radar systems. How is India planning to upgrade the Indian radar system to detect combat jets that would perhaps be used by foreign military forces?

Modern stealth fighter jets are designed to minimise radar detection through a combination of features, including radar-absorbent materials, specialised shaping, and electronic warfare (EW) capabilities. The Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) features advanced systems tailored for modern combat. The AMCA includes focusing on key areas like stealth technology, AI-assisted electronic piloting, and advanced avionics.

DRDO does boost multiple ranges of radars for specific missions: airborne radars, ship-based radars, and cloud-based radars. While the long-range radars are meant for tracking ballistic missiles as well as space situational awareness, the short-range battlefield radar and land-based radars are for surveillance capability. Here, the upgradation of radar systems includes the development of advanced radars.

DRDO’s AESA radar development 

AESA radar is now ready for our airborne platforms.  DRDO’s Uttam AESA Radar for LCA Tejas and Mk-1A cleared for production after completion of developmental flight trials. The combined flight trials with the Indigenous EW Suite of DRDO are in progress on Tejas. It should be possible that Radar be made available for the 41st Aircraft onwards being produced by HAL for the IAF.

Quantum tech for the military

Next is the crucial quantum tech against advanced submarine threats. In the world of cutting-edge military technologies, quantum has arrived, especially in the communications and naval domains.

One crucial area where India is advancing in operationalising quantum tech against advanced submarine threats.

It is largely divided into three areas: quantum computing, quantum sensing and Quantum Communications. Detection of submarines is quantum sensing, where there is a quantum interference, where very small changes in the magnetic field are detected.

So, when a submarine passes, because it is made up of steel, it has some magnetic effect, i.e., it disturbs the Earth’s magnetic field. So, the small changes in the Earth’s magnetic field can be detected by this magnetic sensor, which can be flying on a UAV or an aircraft. That way you can detect submarines upto a depth of 100-200 meters. That is a very useful technology.

Here, DRDO has advanced on various types of magnetometers, which can detect picotesla-level changes in the magnetic field.

With that, we hope that we will be able to detect submarines in the ocean. It is the advanced military tech, which could be on par with most advanced systems anywhere in the world.

So far, DRDO has demonstrated Quantum Communication through optical fibres for a 100 km.

Recently, scientists have done free-space quantum secure communication using quantum entanglement over a distance of more than one km via a free-space optical link established on the IIT Delhi campus. Free-space QKD eliminates the need to lay optical fibres, which can be both disruptive and expensive, especially in challenging terrains and dense urban environments. With this, India entered into a new quantum era of secure communication, which will be a game changer in future warfare.

That elusive engine

India’s quest for a higher thrust class engine is perennial. While efforts are intense from the US engine maker GE’s offering (F-414) to French Safran and the UK’s Rolls-Royce, the progress hinges on the co-development.

However, India’s Kaveri dry engine, developed by GTRE, has gone through the final high-altitude trial as well, and flying test bed trials are underway. “Once that is done, we are ready to integrate it with our Unmanned Platforms, DRDO confirms.

On the very question of the possible collaboration to partner with, the Co-development cost and time, India needs to work around the co-development of a higher thrust class engine.

What could be the roadmap for such critical tech? This could be a national mission, where there will be GTRE, and there will be an Indian industry with key foreign OEMs. The national mission for jet engines is foundational as India’s defence programme, including several high-stakes combat programmes – AMCA, Tejas 2 and TEDBF, solely depends on such engines with intellectual property (IP) ownership under the Indian establishment.

A lot of discussions have happened, but the final decision in this regard will be taken by our government.

AIP system for submarine(P-75)

India’s leading scientist at DRDO has developed crucial AIP technology in the shortest time. The question is how long it will take to induct AIP systems into the P-75, which is a Kalvari class submarine built in India with the French marine company Naval Group.

The land-based prototype of this AIP was already proven on the ground last year. Crucially, the energy module is getting ready, and then the module will be put in a submarine hull, which may take a year or so. After that, when the submarine comes for refit, this hull containing the AIP, i.e., energy module, will be joined to the submarine, and then it will go through testing.

Securing India’s coastline

Another vital area is the coastline security. While Brahmos is a great weapon, it can be fired from the shore. DRDO’s Guided Pinaka has shown a good deal of accuracy, which can be used against ships which are coming close to the Indian coast.

However, the key challenge is to develop a variety of defence systems like Radars, Electro-Optic systems to detect any threats coming in. Forces can have a coastal battery of guns, missiles like surface-to-surface, surface-to-air, etc.

An entire network can be built if required. It need not be ship-based only, it may also be ground-based or shore-based.

How can India break in many such complex tech, especially in the military domain. The fundamental aspect is the radical approach towards R&D in defence, Policy thrust, liberal funding and accountability with government and private entities raising the bar.

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