The JAXA agency has taken a giant step toward creating a hypersonic passenger aircraft: Japanese engineers have successfully tested a Mach 5 class ramjet engine. During tests at the Kakuda Research Center, specialists modeled a flight speed of approximately 6,100 km/h. This is nearly five times the speed of sound. This is reported by Ixbt.com .
In this mode, the aircraft's skin temperature reaches nearly 1000°C, an extreme load that ordinary aircraft cannot withstand. Japanese developers managed to keep internal systems within a safe temperature range — this result is considered one of the project's most important technological achievements.
The uniqueness of the tests lies in the fact that engineers checked not only the engine but also the complex operation of the entire structure. Researchers analyzed heat distribution across the hull, the impact of exhaust gases on hardware stability, and the interaction between aerodynamics and thrust. The project is based on a hydrogen ramjet engine.
Theoretically, an aircraft capable of stable flight at Mach 5 could cover the Tokyo to New York route in about 1 hour and 45 minutes. For comparison, even promising supersonic airliners like the Boom Overture are designed for only Mach 1.7. The next stage of the program involves testing the vehicle in real flight conditions using a launch rocket.
Read “Zamin” on Telegram!
