New Delhi: In a document highlighting the advances made by ISRO in the 2023-25 financial year, ISRO has revealed that multiple short-duration test of the Semicryogenic Engine Power Head Test Article (PHTA), have been conducted, including a modified-subsystem test on 13 January, 2026. This was followed qualification of the Isrosene propellant tank, which was completed on 20 February, 2026, a major milestone in the development of the semicryogenic engine. ISRO has not offered a completion date for the project, with responses to RTI queries towards the end of 2025 indicating that further tests are being planned, leading up to an integrated hot-fire test.
On the sidelines of the 35th Convocation Ceremony at the Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra in October 2025, ISRO Chairman V Narayanan, ISRO Chairman V Narayanan had said, “Semicryogenic engine right now we are doing the power head test. Except thrust chamber all the works are going on, and we are gearing up for the testing of the fully integrated engine.” The third hot test of the PHTA of the upgraded semicryogenic engine was conducted by ISRO on 28 May, 2025. ISRO is developing the high-thrust semicryogenic engine for upgrading the mightiest operational rocket in ISRO’s fleet, the Launch Vehicle Mark 3 (LVM3).
Towards a Reusable LVM3
The indigenously developed semicryogenic engine is designed to provide a thrust of 2,000 kN, and will be used on the Semicryogenic Propulsion Stage (SC120), that is being developed as a replacement for the core stage of the LVM3 rocket that uses liquid fuel, known as L110. The L110 stage provides a thrust of 1,600 kN. The engine, called SE-2000, was previously called SCE-2000, and is expected to power the future launch vehicles of ISRO, where the first stage or booster will return to the launch pad or land on an ocean platform. This will allow ISRO to reuse the first stage of the rocket, which is typically discarded after launch, to significantly reduce the cost of access to space.