Overview
- The flight demonstration occurred on February 3 at 10:45 a.m. from the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, off Odisha’s coast.
- A ground booster accelerated the vehicle to the required Mach number before the nozzle-less booster, SFDR motor and fuel flow controller operated as designed.
- Performance was confirmed through telemetry, radar and electro‑optical instruments deployed along the Bay of Bengal coastline.
- The Ministry of Defence said the success places India among a small group of nations with this propulsion capability, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and DRDO chief Samir V. Kamat congratulating the teams.
- Media reports link the propulsion to the next‑generation Astra Mk‑3 in the 350 km class, though the programme name was not stated in the official announcement.