A scramjet (supersonic combustion ramjet) relies on the high speed of the aircraft to compress incoming air before fuel is injected and ignited. Unlike a conventional ramjet, the airflow inside a scramjet remains at supersonic speeds throughout the entire engine. This design eliminates the need for a compressor turbine and allows vehicles to achieve hypersonic speeds well above Mach 5.
Heard on the job
The telemetry shows the scramjet ignited right at Mach 4.5 and sustained thrust for ten seconds.
Do not mix it up with
- Ramjet: A ramjet slows incoming air to subsonic speeds for combustion, while a scramjet maintains supersonic airflow through the combustor.