The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK) has achieved a significant milestone by successfully establishing and testing India’s first Hypervelocity Expansion Tunnel Test Facility. This accomplishment places India among a select group of countries with advanced hypersonic testing capabilities. Named S2 and affectionately called ‘Jigarthanda’, this 24-meter-long facility is located at IIT Kanpur’s Hypersonic Experimental Aerodynamics Laboratory (HEAL) within the Department of Aerospace Engineering. Over a span of three years, the S2 was meticulously designed and developed with the support and funding from the Aeronautical Research and Development Board (ARDB), the Department of Science and Technology (DST), and IIT Kanpur.

The S2 facility is capable of generating flight speeds ranging from 3 to 10 km/s, effectively simulating the hypersonic conditions experienced during atmospheric entry of vehicles, asteroid entry, scramjet flights, and ballistic missiles. This makes it an invaluable test facility for ongoing missions of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), including Gaganyaan, Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV), and hypersonic cruise missiles.

Professor S. Ganesh, the Director of IIT Kanpur, expressed his pride in the successful establishment of S2, stating that it is a historic milestone for both the institute and India’s scientific capabilities. He commended Professor Mohammed Ibrahim Sugarno and his team for their exceptional work in designing and fabricating this state-of-the-art hypersonic research infrastructure. Professor Sugarno, an Associate Professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering and Centre for Lasers & Photonics at IIT Kanpur, highlighted the immense challenges faced during the construction of S2, which required a deep understanding of physics and precision engineering.

The establishment of the S2 facility marks a significant advancement for India’s space and defense organizations, providing them with domestic hypersonic testing capabilities for critical projects and missions. This achievement showcases the expertise and dedication of the Indian scientific community in pushing the boundaries of technological innovation.

The development of the ‘free piston driver’ system, which involves propelling a piston at high pressure through a compression tube at speeds of 150-200 m/s and bringing it to a controlled stop, was the most critical and challenging aspect of this project. However, our team’s expertise allowed us to overcome this obstacle successfully. We take great pride in having designed, constructed, and tested this unique facility, which solidifies India’s position in the esteemed global hypersonic research community,” he stated.

Professor Tarun Gupta, the Dean of Research and Development at IIT Kanpur, emphasized that S2 showcases the institute’s research excellence and establishes it as a leader in innovative research, paving the way for groundbreaking advancements in aerospace technology. He expressed his gratitude for the crucial support received from ARDB and DST.

Professor G. M. Kamath, the Head of the Department of Aerospace Engineering at IIT Kanpur, highlighted that S2 expands the institute’s research horizons, inspiring a new generation of aerospace enthusiasts and fostering innovation and exploration in this exciting field. By being the first in India to develop such a facility, they have set a new benchmark for hypervelocity research not only in India but also globally.

S2 is a remarkable achievement for IIT Kanpur and a significant boost to India’s space and defense sectors. With the availability of advanced hypervelocity testing capabilities within the country, India is now better positioned to develop cutting-edge hypersonic technologies and systems.