• Key difference from a Ramjet:
  • In a Ramjet, air slows down to subsonic speeds before combustion.
  • In a Scramjet, air remains supersonic throughout the process, allowing higher speeds.
• Working principle: Uses the vehicle’s forward motion to compress incoming air without any rotating compressor.
• India became the fourth country after the USA, Russia, and China to demonstrate flight testing of a Scramjet engine.

Significance of the Scramjet Engine Test  

• Validation of Long-Duration Supersonic Combustion: The test confirms the design and efficiency of the scramjet combustor, ensuring sustained high-speed flight capabilities.
  • It follows an earlier 120-second test conducted in January, demonstrating incremental advancements.
• Strengthening India’s Hypersonic Missile Program: Scramjet engines enable air-breathing propulsion, reducing reliance on onboard oxygen and enhancing missile range.
  • The successful test paves the way for full-scale flight testing of hypersonic cruise missiles.

Source: News On AIR