Indian Hypersonic Propulsion Developments

DMRL is buying 10 sheets of Niobuim C-103 alloy . Each sheet will weight 8.8 kgs. So the total weight of materials ordered will be 88 kgs. The Niobium C-103 alloy was considered for making the fuel injector struts of the HSTDV. Later during the ground testing of the scramjet DRDO found the Nimonic C-263 alloy to be superior. Thus the HSTDV that was flight tested used fuel injector struts based on the Nimonic C-263. The Niobium C-103 is now going to be used to make the nozzle of the scramjet. Initial flight test were to just ignite the engine mid air. The upcoming flight tests will have nozzles.
Screenshot (759).png

These sheets will be used to make the nozzle. The throat of the nozzle will probably be made of Graphite or CERMET.

DMRL is also buying a Laser Powder Bed Fused Metal 3D printer along with some raw materials :
3D printer.jpg

They are buying 300 kg each of Stainless steel (SS316L) & Maraging Steel (M300) powder. They are also buying 100 kg each of Ti64 & IN718 powder.

The 3D printer will have single or multi source 400+ W fibre optic or IPG photonics laser that will be able to print components of a max (275 x 275 x 365) cubic mm volume. The laser beam spot will less than 100 microns in diameter. The printer can build components using Aluminum alloys like AlSi10Mg & others, PH steels, Stainless steel like SS316L & others, Maraging steel like M300 & others, Titanium alloys like Ti64 & others, Super alloys like Inconel IN718 & other Co-Cr alloys etc.

The HSTDV based hypersonic cruise missile will make extensive use of 3D printing for its production. Stainless steel &/or Maraging steel will be used to make the solid rocket booster & nose cap (if any). Titanium alloys & Inconel is going to be used on the wings/fins & other leading edges of the airframe. Aluminum alloys will make up for the internal bulkheads that help the airframe maintain rigidity. Nimonic, Niobium & Co-Cr alloys will be used in the hot section i.e. combustor, struts & nozzle.

As for the 3D printer, Wipro 3D is likely to win that tender. They are already supplying much larger components using the same alloys to ISRO. Wipro's 3D printers are completely Indian designed & made. There would be no import dependence here.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ashwin and Chain Smoker

India among few countries developing hypersonic missiles: US Congressional report​

India is among the select few countries which are developing hypersonic weapons, an independent Congressional report has said, amidst a media report which claimed that China recently tested a nuclear-capable hypersonic missile that circled the globe before missing its target, demonstrating an advanced space capability that caught US intelligence by surprise.

The independent Congressional Research Service (CRS), in its latest report this week, said that although the US, Russia and China possess the most advanced hypersonic weapons programmes, a number of other countries, including Australia, India, France, Germany and Japan, are also developing hypersonic weapons technology.

While Australia has collaborated with the US, India has collaborated with Russia on this, the CRS said in its report.

India has collaborated with Russia on the development of BrahMos II, a Mach 7 hypersonic cruise missile, the CRS report said.

“Although BrahMos II was initially intended to be fielded in 2017, news reports indicate that the programme faces significant delays and is now scheduled to achieve initial operational capability between 2025 and 2028.

“Reportedly, India is also developing an indigenous, dual-capable hypersonic cruise missile as part of its Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle programme and successfully tested a Mach 6 scramjet in June 2019 and September 2020,” the CRS said.

India operates approximately 12 hypersonic wind tunnels and is capable of testing speeds of up to Mach 13, said the Congressional report which is prepared by independent subject area experts for members of the US Congress.​


The Financial Times this week reported that China has tested hypersonic missiles. However, China denied it, saying it tested a hypersonic “vehicle” and not a nuclear-capable hypersonic “missile” as reported by the leading British newspaper which also said that the missile missed its target by about two-dozen miles.

The report said that China tested the nuclear-capable hypersonic missile in August that circled the globe before speeding towards its target, demonstrating an advanced space capability that caught US intelligence by surprise.

According to the CRS, since 2007, the US has collaborated with Australia on the Hypersonic International Flight Research Experimentation (HIFiRE) programme to develop hypersonic technologies.

The most recent HIFiRE test, successfully conducted in July 2017, explored the flight dynamics of a Mach 8 hypersonic glide vehicle, while previous tests explored scramjet engine technologies, it said.

HIFiRE’s successor, the Southern Cross Integrated Flight Research Experiment (SCIFiRE) programme, is to further develop hypersonic air-breathing technologies. SCIFiRE demonstration tests are expected by the mid-2020s.

In addition to the Woomera Test Range facilities, one of the largest weapons test facilities in the world, Australia reportedly operates seven hypersonic wind tunnels and is capable of testing speeds of up to Mach 30, the report said.


Like India, France has also collaborated and contracted with Russia on the development of hypersonic technology. And Japan is developing the Hypersonic Cruise Missile (HCM) and the Hyper Velocity Gliding Projectile (HVGP), it said.

The CRS said that in recent years, the US has focused such efforts on developing hypersonic glide vehicles, which are launched from a rocket before gliding to a target, and hypersonic cruise missiles, which are powered by high-speed, air-breathing engines during flight.

The Department of Defence (DOD) is currently developing hypersonic weapons under the Navy’s Conventional Prompt Strike programme, which is intended to provide the US military with the ability to strike hardened or time-sensitive targets with conventional warheads, as well as through several Air Force, Army and DARPA programmes, the CRS said.

According to the CRS, unlike programmes in China and Russia, US hypersonic weapons are to be conventionally armed.

“As a result, US hypersonic weapons will likely require greater accuracy and will be more technically challenging to develop than nuclear-armed Chinese and Russian systems,” it added.
www.indiatoday.in

India among few countries developing hypersonic missiles: US Congressional report

India is among the select few countries which are developing hypersonic weapons, an independent Congressional report has said.
www.indiatoday.in www.indiatoday.in
 
  • Like
Reactions: Amarante, Chain Smoker and STEPHEN COHEN
STEPHEN COHEN said:
All these are future follow on developments

First let us get the HGV or HSTDV ready
Click to expand...
It's 2022 , Mind it. The date out here is synonymous with optimism. In other words all those platforms designated as carrier killers will manifest themselves sooner rather than later.

Hell, in spite of everything, I'm actually expecting a detailed write up justifying the pressing need for a 65000 Ton INS Vishal anytime now. That's the power of 2022.
 
  • Like
Reactions: STEPHEN COHEN, Chain Smoker and Paro
scrmj65.png


Old pic of Scramjet Combustor Mounted on the test facility, most likely the pre/small scale stage of the big test setup that Gautam sir posted before. Pic credit of team hypersonic propulsion division & Dy. Project Director, HSTDV,DRDL.
TEST CONDITIONS
1) FLIGHT MACH NO : 6.5
2) ALTITUDE SIMULATED : 35KM
Time: 25 sec
 
  • Like
Reactions: randomradio, Gautam and _Anonymous_
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom