RUSSIA'S CENTRAL Aero-Hydrodynamic Institute (TsAGI) has held talks with MTU and Aerospatiale on a joint supersonic-combustion ramjet (scramjet) flying-testbed programme, following on from TsAGI and MTU work. The German engine manufacturer and TsAGI started to look at a joint scramjet project in 1992, says Dr Yuri Korontsvit, deputy director of the propulsion division. The result was a programme looking at supersonic combustion modeling using ground-test rigs.
Both organisations are now exploring the possibility of a flying scramjet testbed engine, using a converted Raduga Kh-22 (AS-4 Kitchen) missile as the airframe. Korontsvit says that the cost of such a project will require additional partners to be sought. MTU and TsAGI have already met France's Aerospatiale and propulsion specialist ONERA to discuss a joint project between the three countries.
Applications for such a power plant could include long-range hypersonic missiles, and single-stage-to-orbit launch vehicles.
Source: Flight International