IIT Madras Develops Ramjet Shells Boosting 155mm Artillery Range by 50%, Enabling Deep Strikes Without Costly Missiles

In a significant advancement for India’s indigenous defence technology, researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras have successfully developed ramjet-powered artillery shells that can extend the striking range of standard 155 mm guns by approximately 50 per cent.

This major breakthrough allows existing artillery systems to engage targets at distances previously reachable only by expensive missiles, all without compromising the projectile’s lethality.

A Technological Leap: Ramjet vs. Base-Bleed

The core of this innovation lies in its propulsion system.

Traditional long-range shells often use a "base-bleed" unit to reduce drag, but the new design developed by IIT Madras replaces this with a compact ramjet engine.

Unlike standard shells that coast effectively like a thrown stone after leaving the barrel, the ramjet shell acts as a self-propelled projectile.

Once the shell is fired and reaches high supersonic speeds (approximately Mach 2), the ramjet engine activates.

It "breathes" the incoming air, compresses it, and mixes it with onboard fuel to generate continuous thrust during flight.

This sustained propulsion allows the projectile to travel much further and strike with greater precision, while maintaining the same level of lethality as conventional ammunition.

Proven Performance in Field Trials

The development programme, which began in 2020 in close collaboration with the Indian Army, has recently concluded a series of rigorous tests.

Initial validation occurred at the School of Artillery in Deolali in September 2025, followed by extensive field firing trials at the Pokhran range in December 2025.

These tests confirmed that the shells could exit the gun barrel cleanly, fly stably, and reliably ignite their ramjet engines mid-air.

The performance data from these trials indicates a dramatic boost in range across India’s artillery arsenal:

Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS): Range increased from roughly 40 km to nearly 70 km.
K9 Vajra Self-Propelled Howitzer: Range extended from 36 km to approximately 62 km.
Dhanush Artillery Gun: Range improved from 30 km to nearly 55 km.
Bofors / Ultra Light Howitzers: Capable of hitting targets at 43 km, up from the standard 24 km.

Strategic Advantage and Cost Efficiency

This breakthrough is a major milestone for the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

By upgrading the ammunition rather than the weapon systems, the Indian Army can achieve deep-strike capabilities—hitting enemy logistics, command centres, and bunkers located far behind the front lines—at a fraction of the cost of firing missiles.

Leading the project, Professor P.A. Ramakrishna of IIT Madras, alongside retired Lieutenant General P.R. Shankar and a team of experts, noted that this technology places India among a select group of nations, including the United States and South Korea, who are mastering next-generation artillery propulsion.

The success of the 155 mm shell has opened doors for further applications. Researchers are now exploring the adaptation of this ramjet technology for 122 mm rockets and tank ammunition, potentially revolutionising the entire spectrum of India’s conventional firepower in the near future.