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3mo ago

IIT Madras Unveils Ramjet Artillery Shells That Lift 155 mm Gun Range by Nearly 50%

Researchers say the shell replaces base‑bleed units with a compact ramjet to sustain thrust after launch, extending reach on existing platforms without new guns.

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Overview

  • IIT Madras publicly announced successful trials showing near‑50% range gains for standard 155 mm ammunition across multiple Indian Army guns.
  • Field tests in September 2025 at Deolali and December 2025 at Pokhran validated clean gun exit, stable flight and reliable ramjet ignition.
  • Published figures cite ATAGS reaching about 70 km from roughly 40 km, K9 Vajra about 62 km from 36 km, Dhanush about 55 km from 30 km, and Bofors ULF about 43 km from 24 km.
  • The effort, launched in 2020 with the Indian Army and led by Prof. P. A. Ramakrishna, is presented as an indigenous, cost‑effective ammunition upgrade aligned with Atmanirbhar Bharat goals.
  • IIT Madras says technical refinements and qualification steps continue toward operational capability, with related work exploring ramjet applications for rockets.