Scramjet Engine Test Latest News
Recently, the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), under DRDO, successfully conducted a ground test of a Scramjet Engine for over 1,000 seconds at Hyderabad.
About Scramjet Engine
- A Scramjet (Supersonic Combustion Ramjet) is an air-breathing engine designed to operate efficiently at hypersonic speeds (Mach 5 and above).
- Unlike traditional jet engines, it does not use rotating compressors, relying instead on the vehicle’s high speed to compress air.
- Scramjets enable supersonic combustion, making them suitable for Hypersonic Cruise Missiles (HCMs).
- Scramjet Engine Working Principle:
- Air intake: Vehicle must already be flying at supersonic speeds (Mach 3+).
- Compression: High-speed movement compresses the incoming air.
- Combustion: Hydrogen fuel is injected and ignited while air remains supersonic.
- Thrust Generation: Expanding gases create thrust (based on Newton’s Third Law).
- Scramjets need rocket-assisted takeoff as they can’t generate thrust at zero speed.
Jet Engine vs Ramjet vs Scramjet
|
Engine Type |
Speed Range |
Key Feature |
|
Jet Engine |
Subsonic to Transonic |
Uses rotating compressor, works in atmosphere |
|
Ramjet |
Supersonic (Mach 3-6) |
Needs forward motion to compress air |
|
Scramjet |
Hypersonic (Mach 5+) |
Allows supersonic combustion |
|
Dual Mode Ramjet |
Mach 4–8 |
Shifts between ramjet & scramjet modes |
About Hypersonic Missiles
- A Hypersonic Missile travels at speeds greater than Mach 5, offering high speed and manoeuvrability, unlike traditional ballistic missiles.
- There are two types of hypersonic weapons systems:
- Hypersonic Glide Vehicles (HGVs): launched by rockets and glide towards the target.
- Hypersonic Cruise Missiles (HCMs): powered by scramjet engines and capable of maintaining hypersonic speed throughout the flight.
- Hypersonic Cruise Missiles typically fly at lower altitudes and are more difficult to detect and intercept due to their speed and manoeuvrability.
Scramjet Engine Test FAQs
Q1. What is a scramjet engine?
Ans. A scramjet (supersonic combustion ramjet) is an air-breathing engine that operates at hypersonic speeds (Mach 5 or more) using atmospheric oxygen for combustion.
Q2. How is a scramjet different from a ramjet?
Ans. Unlike ramjets, scramjets allow supersonic airflow throughout the engine, enabling higher-speed operations.
Source: PIB
Last updated on June, 2025
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