Chennai: Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) have developed and successfully tested ramjet-assisted artillery shells that can significantly extend the firing range of existing gun systems without reducing their lethality, marking a major step in indigenous defence technology development.
The innovation involves integrating a ramjet engine into standard 155 mm artillery shells by replacing the conventional base-bleed unit.
Unlike rocket-assisted projectiles, the ramjet provides sustained propulsion after the shell exits the gun barrel, enabling a substantial increase in range while retaining the destructive impact required for battlefield operations.
According to IIT Madras, the technology could allow artillery units to strike targets at nearly 50 per cent longer distances without modifying existing gun platforms.
This offers armed forces greater tactical flexibility and deeper strike capability, while remaining more cost-effective and survivable than missile-based systems.
The project, initiated in 2020 in collaboration with the Indian Army, has undergone multiple stages of testing. Early validation was carried out using a 76 mm gun developed at IIT Madras, followed by scaled trials on 155 mm artillery guns.
Recent field trials at Deolali and Pokhran demonstrated stable flight, clean gun exit and successful ramjet ignition.
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