In a significant breakthrough for India’s defence and indigenous weapons development, researchers at IIT Madras have successfully developed a ramjet-powered 155 mm artillery shell, a technology that could dramatically enhance the Indian Army’s long-range firepower while keeping costs under control.
While much of the public attention remains focused on platforms such as Tejas, Rafale, and other high-profile defence acquisitions, this development has the potential to quietly transform the way artillery warfare is conducted.
The innovation replaces the conventional base-bleed unit in artillery shells with a ramjet engine, providing sustained propulsion after the shell exits the gun barrel, stated a press release issued by the IIT Madras on Monday.
A ramjet, which uses the shell’s high speed to compress air, mix it with fuel and generate thrust without moving parts like turbines, enables shells to travel much farther while maintaining destructive power on impact.
It addresses key limitations in modern artillery, where guns remain the backbone of battlefield firepower due to their simplicity, survivability and low cost, unlike expensive missiles, added the release.
How the Ramjet Artillery Shell Works
At its core, the new shell closely resembles a conventional 155 mm artillery round. The key difference lies in the addition of a compact ramjet motor integrated at the rear of the shell. This motor provides sustained propulsion after the shell leaves the barrel, allowing it to maintain high speeds throughout its flight.
When fired from a standard howitzer, a 155 mm shell already exits the barrel at Mach 2 to Mach 3, well within the operational envelope required for a ramjet engine. The design takes advantage of this initial ultra-supersonic speed—moments after firing, the ramjet ignites, drawing in air and generating additional thrust.
In conventional artillery shells, velocity rapidly decreases due to air resistance once the shell is in flight. By contrast, the ramjet-assisted shell maintains its speed across the trajectory, resulting in a range increase of up to 50 percent.
The implications of this technology are substantial. According to available data Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS), which currently fires conventional shells to about 40 km, could see its effective range increase to 60 km or more. Dhanush howitzers, with a conventional range of roughly 30 km, could potentially fire these shells up to 55 km.
While these gains may appear incremental on paper, defence experts describe the achievement as a major technological milestone, especially given the long and complex development history of ramjet-assisted artillery worldwide.
Cost-Effective and Compatible with Existing Shells
One of the most notable aspects of the IIT Madras design is its compatibility with existing artillery ammunition. Earlier international attempts at ramjet artillery often required entirely new shell designs and modifications to launch systems.
In contrast, the Indian design reportedly allows the ramjet unit to be added to existing shells with minimal changes, effectively making it a plug-and-play upgrade. Images released from trials show the ramjet motor as a distinct module attached to the shell, reinforcing its modular nature.
This approach not only simplifies induction into service but also keeps costs significantly lower than developing and fielding brand-new ammunition families.
Multiple trials of the ramjet-powered shell have already been conducted, and early results are said to be encouraging. As the system moves closer to maturity, attention is now shifting to its operational implications.
Artillery shells remain far cheaper than guided missiles or rockets and are far easier to sustain in large numbers during prolonged conflicts. By combining extended range with modern guidance options, such as GPS-aided precision kits, artillery can assume roles traditionally reserved for much more expensive stand-off weapons.
A Potential Game Changer in Modern Artillery Warfare
The Indian Army’s recent operational experience highlights this potential. During Operation Sindoor, precision strikes on terrorist targets near the Line of Control were carried out using US-made Excalibur guided shells, fired from M777 ultra-light howitzers. These systems offer a maximum range of around 40–45 km.
With ramjet assistance, similar guided shells could potentially strike targets at 70 km, without the need to deploy combat aircraft or expend costly missile systems. Such capabilities would approach the ranges offered by rocket artillery systems like Pinaka Mk-II and Pinaka ER, but with far greater logistical simplicity and lower cost.
From a tactical perspective, the extended range provides a decisive advantage. If adversary artillery is limited to 30–40 km, Indian gun systems equipped with ramjet-assisted shells could engage targets while remaining safely outside enemy fire envelopes.
Defence analysts believe this combination of range, precision, cost-effectiveness, and operational flexibility could make ramjet-powered artillery shells one of the most impactful yet understated additions to India’s future battlefield capabilities.
As development progresses and induction plans take shape, this indigenous innovation may well redefine the balance between traditional artillery and long-range precision strike weapons in the years to come.
The project, initiated in 2020 in collaboration with the Indian Army, has advanced through rigorous testing, including early trials on a 76 mm gun at IIT Madras, scaled tests on 155 mm systems, and field trials in September 2025 at the School of Artillery, Deolali, demonstrating clean gun exit, stable flight and ramjet ignition.
Further trials in December 2025 at Pokhran Field Firing Range confirmed performance at higher operational zones, with ongoing refinements targeting full operational capability.
