IIT Madras Developing Ramjet-Powered FSAPDS Shells with High-Speed and 9km Range for Main Battle Tanks

In a move that could redefine armored warfare, the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) is developing a revolutionary new ammunition system for main battle tanks. Led by Major General Rajiv Narayanan, a Professor of Practice at the institute, and in collaboration with Lieutenant General Shankar, the project focuses on creating ramjet-powered Fin Stabilized Armour Piercing Discarding Sabot (FSAPDS) shells. This ambitious endeavor seeks to significantly boost the range and effectiveness of tank weaponry against modern armored threats.

Traditional FSAPDS rounds, while currently the most potent kinetic energy ammunition for tanks, have limitations in range and velocity. Their effectiveness is further challenged by the advent of advanced Active Protection Systems (APS) on modern tanks, designed to intercept incoming projectiles.

The innovative ramjet-powered FSAPDS rounds aim to overcome these limitations by leveraging ramjet technology to achieve significantly higher speeds and extend the effective range to an unprecedented 6 to 9 kilometers.

This extended range offers several tactical advantages. Firstly, it allows tank crews to engage enemy armor from a safer distance, reducing their vulnerability to counter-fire. Secondly, the increased speed of the projectile decreases the reaction time for enemy APS, making interception significantly more difficult.

Ramjets are air-breathing engines that generate thrust by utilizing the oxygen in the surrounding air, allowing for sustained propulsion over extended distances. This technology, successfully implemented in this project, promises to propel FSAPDS rounds to significantly higher speeds, extending their lethal range to 6-9 kilometers.

The IIT Madras team is currently focused on rigorous testing and validation of the new ammunition system. The project involves intricate engineering challenges, including the integration of advanced materials and precision manufacturing techniques to ensure the rounds can withstand the extreme forces involved.

 

[kinzelle]

This is comically bad idea, apfsds needs a barrel for stable launch, how will they fit a ramjet apfsds in the barrel? The cost will be too high as well. What are they smoking? There are already traditional atgms like 9m133 with 1200mm of penetration. IIT projects these days remind me of school project on futuristic town model 🤦🏻

 

[Gajanan Hirde]

While some may not be able to digest, I think it's a wise move

 

[sanket]

it will also developed for K9 Vajra too

 

[Double Tap]

purpose of artillery is to be inexpensive as possible from barrel cost to ammunition , this is absolutely moronic and counter productive

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

it will also developed for K9 Vajra too

No, this is a tank round. Not meant for howitzers.

 

[sanket]

No, this is a tank round. Not meant for howitzers.

yes i am Right check it out it will b compaitable with Dhanush DRDO ATAGs, K9 Vajra

 

[sunilanalysis]

good idea, but not too great..
shells cant be intercepted... ramjet or othewise should not matter much..

 

[Bhishma]

yes i am Right check it out it will b compaitable with Dhanush DRDO ATAGs, K9 Vajra

bro the range of this round is 6-9km. Dhanush's range is 36-38km. Whats the point even if it fits ? Howitzers are meant to be stationed in one place, launch a barrage attack. Tanks are meant to be mobile and take control of area, destroy other enemy tanks. Why do you want to mix the roles just because you theoretically can ?

 

[Bhishma]

purpose of artillery is to be inexpensive as possible from barrel cost to ammunition , this is absolutely moronic and counter productive

Its too early to talk about price. Ofcourse its going to be costlier, but we dont know if its 1.5x or 2x etc, definitely not going to be as costly as Brahmos. it does give an advantage. Imagine enemy tanks can fire upto 5km only and this round can fire from 9km away. Speed should be giving lot more kinetic energy and penetrative power

 

[Sridhar]

Trust a professional to come up with such innovative ideas.
Salute !!!

 

[Bhishma]

good idea, but not too great..
shells cant be intercepted... ramjet or othewise should not matter much..

USP would be kinetic energy, longer range

 

[abhinav srivastava]

Hearing similar story for Ramjet powered artillery since 2020.

 

[Ray]

bro the range of this round is 6-9km. Dhanush's range is 36-38km. Whats the point even if it fits ? Howitzers are meant to be stationed in one place, launch a barrage attack. Tanks are meant to be mobile and take control of area, destroy other enemy tanks. Why do you want to mix the roles just because you theoretically can ?

He means the same tech can use to develop artillery projectiles.
And it's possible to develop different kind of projectiles for different guns on a tech.

 

[Radha Ramanan]

No where in the world this type of project has been undertaken. Norway company NAMMO, the world leader in explosives and has under taken research in ramjet 155mm howitzer ammo. Their goal is to reach 150 km range and out gun all field guns.
from what i understand only a 155mm ramjet shell is being developed in IIT madras and not a 120mm tank fired shell. To make a APFSDS ramjet round is extremely complex as the intake diameter has to be very small , the tank round being supported by sabots till it ,leaves the barrel. So if the sabot takes up 20mm all round to support the missile ( my guess) the shell can only be 80 mm. If one looks at a pic of a regular APFSDS round it will be clear. The intake will be similar to the front end of the brahmos missile.
I am of the opinion that before they develop the regular ramjet shell they will not try to undertake a much more complex project. Russia is the world leader in ramjet tech as they have the largest collection of ramjet powered operational missiles in the world. They have over 50 years of research ,that being the case i wonder why they did not think of this. The cost of development and production engineering will be extremely costly for a ramjet shell with titanium alloy . used.
IN my view the article stating that an APFSDS ramjet is being developed is wrong or i am wrong
THe other point is there will be more cost effective ways of taking out a tank like the canon fired missies that we have now, Fire and forget missiles like Nag, and many others. All these are fire and forget and need not expose the tank. The 3rd gen anti tank missiles are very accurate as they have a IIR homing system The ramjet shell fire control solution ,assuming it is there , has to be done by the ballistic computer in the tank.

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

yes i am Right check it out it will b compaitable with Dhanush DRDO ATAGs, K9 Vajra

Dude. Howitzers or artillery dont shoot APFSDS rounds. This article is specifically for APFSDS rounds.

 

[Bhishma]

He means the same tech can use to develop artillery projectiles.
And it's possible to develop different kind of projectiles for different guns on a tech.

That project is already there. We have already achieved success in 76mm ramjet. 155mm is being developed. Its different from the one in question though.

 

[M S Chatterji]

No where in the world this type of project has been undertaken. Norway company NAMMO, the world leader in explosives and has under taken research in ramjet 155mm howitzer ammo. Their goal is to reach 150 km range and out gun all field guns.

Your wrong. he clearly said Ramjet powered FSAPDS Shells for Tanks. Ramjet powered Artillery shells for 155mm Gun is different project also by them.

 

[sunilanalysis]

USP would be kinetic energy, longer range

IITs have very little credibility in delivering to defense needs for past few years...
2 years back some IIT boasted of technology detecting cross border tunnels, ended up in hoax, no single detection, usage so far.

 

[Bhishma]

IITs have very little credibility in delivering to defense needs for past few years...
2 years back some IIT boasted of technology detecting cross border tunnels, ended up in hoax, no single detection, usage so far.

Project is headed by Gen Narayanan, working with Gen Shankar who is ex DG of artillery. Both are highly decorated retd Generals, extremely intelligent. They appear in several youtube shows. You are questioning their credibility ?

 

[kinzelle]

Project is headed by Gen Narayanan, working with Gen Shankar who is ex DG of artillery. Both are highly decorated retd Generals, extremely intelligent. They appear in several youtube shows. You are questioning their credibility ?

"Saar you can't question the credibility of my great Generals saar" buddy they are not gods slow down on the copium. Given iit's history of scifi weapons promises that have only appeared in south indian movies, thier "credibility" doesn't mean much.

 

[Dipesh Debnath]

He means the same tech can use to develop artillery projectiles.
And it's possible to develop different kind of projectiles for different guns on a tech.

Doubting ramjet in tank shell. Ramjet is not ideal requirement in 9 km range. Ramjet is to extend range. Sabot round is high speed and effective enough for close range.

 

[Dipesh Debnath]

Your wrong. he clearly said Ramjet powered FSAPDS Shells for Tanks. Ramjet powered Artillery shells for 155mm Gun is different project also by them.

Wondering if there is enough time to develop ramjet aerodynamic environment within 9 km range. Maybe sabot is good enough for close range. Ramjet should be used in 155mm round.

 

[Dipesh Debnath]

Trust a professional to come up with such innovative ideas.
Salute !!!

Idea is there with nammo already. Implementation takes 10yrs, if we follow Excalibur and sensor fused weapon development.

 

[Bikramjeet Goswami]

purpose of artillery is to be inexpensive as possible from barrel cost to ammunition , this is absolutely moronic and counter productive

Yeah, Ramjet shells made little sense in 155 mm artillery, even less so in 120 mm tank guns. There are gun launched missile systems that can reach upto 9 km or more. Armoured vehicle loses in the Russia Ukraine war has been severe , ATGMs and Loitering Munitions have emerged as major threats.

 

[Bikramjeet Goswami]

Doubting ramjet in tank shell. Ramjet is not ideal requirement in 9 km range. Ramjet is to extend range. Sabot round is high speed and effective enough for close range.

Say DRDO develops a reliable 155 mm Ramjet shell. Each shell is going to be exponentially more expensive than regular 155 mm Shells. The jet and fuel is going to take up space and reduce explosive carried by each shell. So each shell is going to do less damage. Question we have to ask? Can it deliver high explosives on target cheaper than say the Pinaka MLRS?

 

[Cyrus]

This is a unique concept. Hats off to the engineers who have conceived it.
A regular shell will be attached to a hydrogen fired Ramjet fitted in the front.
The shell after firing will take the Ramjet to a supersonic Mach 2 which will then spring the Ramjet engine into action and boost the velocity to Mach 5.
This will extent the range of a standard shot from 5 km to 9 km and provide very high terminal velocity.
It is like having a mini unguided Brahmos fired from a Tank, cheap but very effective.

 

[Dipesh Debnath]

Say DRDO develops a reliable 155 mm Ramjet shell. Each shell is going to be exponentially more expensive than regular 155 mm Shells. The jet and fuel is going to take up space and reduce explosive carried by each shell. So each shell is going to do less damage. Question we have to ask? Can it deliver high explosives on target cheaper than say the Pinaka MLRS?

Excalibur is 100cm long and has 5.4 kg warhead. Valac ramjet shell being tested has length 125 gm with 6.5 kg warhead. Krasnopol shell is 130 cm.So ramjet can fit in 155 mm howitzer and carry required warhead weight.