Scramjet engines: The first forty years

A general review of the emergence and maturing of supersonic combustion ramjet (scramjet) engine technologies over the last 40 years is presented. The review is given in terms of the efforts completed or proceeding in the United States, Russia, France, Germany, Japan, Australia, and other countries. A brief account of the challenges of scramjet combustor development is given, and attention is directed toward other source references for more detailed accounts of technology evolution. Two emerging scramjet applications are identified, namely, hydrogen-fueled high-speed engines for access to space and hydrocarbon-fueled engines for hypersonic air-launched missiles.