India backs reusable Agnibaan with $20m development funding

(SpaceEnergy) India's Technology Development Board has agreed $20m (₹2bn) of financial support for Agnikul Cosmos to develop a reusable Agnibaan launch vehicle using restartable, deep-throttling semi-cryogenic liquid propulsion.

The support, under the government's Research Development and Innovation Fund, will be provided through optionally convertible debentures. The programme aims to advance the technology from Technology Readiness Level 4 or above to TRL 8.

The proposed Agnibaan RLV architecture combines a lightweight upper stage and precise orbital insertion with semi-cryogenic propulsion designed for deep throttling and restart. The development programme also envisages descent propulsion, controlled descent and recovery.

The project targets greater system-level reusability rather than recovery of only the first stage, with development covering propulsion, ascent systems, orbital insertion, descent and recovery.

Agnikul has previously developed Agnilet, its single-piece 3D-printed rocket engine, and Agnibaan, its orbital-class launch vehicle. The Technology Development Board had also previously supported development and commercialisation of Agnikul's modular launch vehicle for small-satellite missions.

Technology Development Board secretary Rajesh Kumar Pathak said reusability was an important technology frontier as India sought launch systems capable of reaching orbit with greater frequency, flexibility and efficiency.

The government said the new programme is aligned with the RDI Fund's priority area covering advanced and reusable launch vehicles and propulsion innovation.