Scramjet Engine Test:
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.
- 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.
