IIT Kanpur Achieves Milestone in Hypersonic Technology with New Expansion Tunnel Facility

IIT Kanpur has established India's first Hypervelocity Expansion Tunnel, placing India among few nations with advanced hypersonic test capabilities. Get details here 

The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK) has successfully set up and operated India's inaugural Hypervelocity Expansion Tunnel Test Facility, marking a significant milestone that positions India among few nations possessing sophisticated hypersonic testing capabilities. 

The S2, nicknamed 'Jigarthanda', is a 24-meter-long facility located at IIT Kanpur’s Hypersonic Experimental Aerodynamics Laboratory (HEAL) within the Department of Aerospace Engineering. The S2 was indigenously designed and developed over a period of three years with funding and support from the Aeronautical Research and Development Board (ARDB), the Department of Science and Technology (DST), and IIT Kanpur.

S2, the facility can produce flight speeds of 3-10 km/s, stimulationg the hypersonic conditions seen in atmospheric vehicle entries, asteroid approaches, scramjet operations, and ballistic missile launches. This capability renders it an essential testing ground for current ISRO and DRDO missions like Gaganyaan, RLV, and hypersonic cruise missiles.

S2 represents a tremendous achievement for IIT Kanpur and a major capacity boost for India's space and defence sectors. With sophisticated hypervelocity testing capabilities now available domestically, India is better positioned to develop advanced hypersonic technologies and systems. 

Prof. S. Ganesh, Director, IIT Kanpur,said, "The successful establishment of S2, India's first hypervelocity expansion tunnel test facility, marks a historic milestone for IIT Kanpur and for India's scientific capabilities. I congratulate Prof. Sugarno and his team for their exemplary work in designing and fabricating the hypersonic research infrastructure. S2 will empower India's space and defence organizations with domestic hypersonic testing capabilities for critical projects and missions."

Prof. Mohammed Ibrahim Sugarno, Associate Professor, Department of Aerospace Engineering and Centre for Lasers & Photonics at IIT Kanpur said, "Building S2 has been extremely challenging, requiring in-depth knowledge of physics and precision engineering. The most crucial and challenging aspect was perfecting the 'free piston driver' system, which requires firing a piston at high pressure between 20-35 atmospheres down a 6.5 m. compression tube at speeds of 150-200 m/s, and bringing it to a complete stop or 'soft landing' at the end.”

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