Prayagraj-based space-tech and propulsion Start-Up Trishulopulsion Technology Private Limited has unveiled a concept for a Supersonic Sea-Skimming Aerial Practice Target (SAPT), a system designed to support the Indian Navy’s training requirements against advanced airborne threats.

The concept was showcased during Swavlamban 2026, the Indian Navy’s flagship innovation and indigenisation event held in New Delhi on 26-27 October. The exhibition provided a platform for indigenous companies to present emerging technologies aimed at strengthening India’s self-reliance in defence capabilities.

According to the company, the SAPT is intended to operate at supersonic speeds while offering an operational range of more than 200 kilometres. The aerial target has been conceived to replicate the flight profile of high-speed, low-flying threats that naval forces increasingly face in modern maritime warfare.

At the heart of the proposed system is Trishulopulsion’s ABRE-6500 air-breathing rocket engine. Unlike conventional rocket motors that carry both fuel and oxidiser, an air-breathing propulsion system utilises oxygen from the atmosphere, potentially improving efficiency and extending operational endurance.

While the company has not publicly disclosed the exact operating cycle of the ABRE-6500, the engine represents an effort to develop an indigenous propulsion solution capable of powering a supersonic aerial target platform. Owing to the absence of further technical details, it remains unclear whether the engine is based on ramjet technology or another air-breathing propulsion architecture.

The proposed target system is intended to provide the Indian Navy with a realistic surrogate for sea-skimming missile threats. Such targets are critical for training crews to detect, track and engage fast-moving aerial objects flying at extremely low altitudes over the sea, where radar detection and interception can be particularly challenging.

If successfully developed, the SAPT could offer a demanding training environment for naval sensors, air-defence systems and weapon platforms. Its eventual effectiveness, however, will depend on factors such as achievable speed, altitude envelope, flight stability, target signature, reliability and operational cost.

No information has yet been released regarding flight-testing activities, and it remains uncertain whether the system has entered any formal Indian Navy procurement or evaluation process.

The unveiling also highlights the growing role of Indian Start-Ups in the defence sector. Beyond propulsion development, a complete aerial target system requires the integration of guidance packages, control systems, launch mechanisms and flight-safety features, making it a significantly broader engineering challenge than engine development alone.

The concept aligns with the Indian Navy’s ongoing efforts to acquire next-generation aerial targets capable of realistically simulating modern anti-ship missile threats. Such systems are expected to play an increasingly important role in strengthening live-fire air-defence training and operational readiness.

Trishulopulsion’s proposal therefore represents an early but noteworthy attempt to combine indigenous air-breathing propulsion technology with a practical defence application, potentially contributing to India's wider push towards self-reliance in advanced aerospace and defence technologies.

Agencies