DRDO Successfully Demonstrates SFDR Missile Technology

04 Feb 2026 CW Team

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully demonstrated Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) technology during a flight test conducted from the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur, off the coast of Odisha. The test was carried out recently and marks a major milestone in India’s advanced missile development programme.

The successful demonstration places India among a select group of nations possessing SFDR technology, which is critical for developing long-range air-to-air missiles capable of providing a significant tactical advantage. During the test, all subsystems—including the nozzle-less booster, solid fuel ducted ramjet motor and fuel flow controller—performed as expected after initial acceleration to the required Mach number.

System performance was validated through flight data captured by multiple tracking instruments deployed along the Bay of Bengal coastline. The launch was monitored by senior scientists from several DRDO laboratories, including Defence Research & Development Laboratory, High Energy Materials Research Laboratory and Research Centre Imarat.

Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO and industry partners on the successful demonstration, while Samir V Kamat, Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO, commended the teams involved in the flight test.

Infrastructure Urban

04 Feb 2026

Public Capex Push In Budget To Boost Tyre Industry: ATMA

The Indian tyre industry is expected to benefit from the government’s renewed emphasis on infrastructure development outlined in the Union Budget 2026–27, according to the Automotive Tyre Manufacturers Association (ATMA).ATMA said the tyre sector is closely linked to the performance of the transport and infrastructure ecosystem, and the sharp rise in public capital expenditure to Rs 1.2 trillion is a significant positive for sustained long-term demand growth.The association noted that the enhanced capex allocation reflects the government’s continued focus on building future-ready infrast..

Underground Rail Line Planned In Siliguri ‘Chicken’s Neck’

Indian Railways is planning to construct underground railway tracks along a critical 40 km stretch of the Siliguri Corridor, popularly known as the Chicken’s Neck, to strengthen connectivity between the North East and the rest of India while enhancing security preparedness. According to the Indian Railways, the underground section is strategically significant due to the corridor’s narrow geography and proximity to international borders. Chetan Kumar Srivastava, General Manager of the Northeast Frontier Railway, said the proposed underground alignment is extremely important from a security..

Agriculture Infrastructure Fund Boosts Post-Harvest Assets

The Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), a Central Sector Scheme of the Government of India, continues to strengthen post-harvest management infrastructure by enabling access to medium- and long-term debt financing through interest-subvented loans. The scheme focuses on improving agri-logistics, reducing post-harvest losses, promoting modern storage, processing and value-addition facilities, and enhancing farm-gate infrastructure to support efficient agricultural supply chains. Under AIF, banks and financial institutions provide loans with an interest subvention of three per cent per annum,..