ISRO test launches Scramjet Engine: All you need to know

ISRO on Sunday morning test launched a scramjet engine, which is also known as supersonic combusting ramjet. It is a variant of a ramjet airbreathing jet engine in which combustion takes place in supersonic airflow.

Just like in ramjets, a scramjet relies on high vehicle speed to forcefully compress the incoming air before combustion also airflow in a scramjet is supersonic throughout the entire engine. This allows the scramjet to operate efficiently at extremely high speeds.

While in the conventional rocket engines there is need to carry both fuel and oxidiser on board for combustion to produce thrust, scramjets obtain oxygen from the atmosphere by compressing the incoming air before combustion at hypersonic speed. The scramjet engine can also liquefy the oxygen and store it on board.