China is starting to ramp up its scramjet propulsion workan initiative that will benefit high-speed missile programs while also helping the country to develop advanced aerospace materials, greater computational capabilities and a cadre of young engineers who have matured as a result of cutting-edge engine and aerodynamic challenges.
Building on its ramjet experience, China is embracing the much more difficult task of developing Mach 5 air vehicle concepts in which propulsion and aerodynamics are highly coupled.
As part of this effort, an integrated scramjet model is about to begin testing at up to Mach 5.6 in a new wind tunnel in Beijing.
In addition to the technology and engineering experience to be gained, the mid-term military payoff is likely to be more advanced high-speed tactical and medium-range Chinese missiles, especially for antiship warfare that could threaten U.S. aircraft carriers in the Pacific or operating in support of Taiwan…
…And over the next several decades, the scramjet work could eventually provide China with a tactical hypersonic global-strike capability beyond the country’s strategic ballistic missile force. The U.S. has similar goals for its own growing scramjet program.
Read the Aviation Week story “China Developing Scramjet Propulsion.“
(Starting soon, Defense Tech and Military.com will be featuring frequent articles from our friends at Aviation Week.)
– Christian
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
I always wondered where all my Chinese classmates went after graduation from my years at Purdue. I dont see them in the US defense industry due to them being foreign nationals. The idea that we might be educating foreign nationals at our best aero universities only to have them return home – and the potential use of that information – makes me a little uneasy.
I have to agree with the fellow at the bottom. The engineering department at UCONN was full of Chineese nationals.
Why are we giving away the house?
“BT” said:”An impossible statement to make”
There is nothing incorrect about that statement.
Are you saying its bad to have goals?
China wants the same thing all the countries want, the ability to strike very rapidly. The USAF has laid ou its plans…its called FALCON.
Our time as “#1″ is not over. the US is still the best country on earth….and I dont expect a communist country to topple us.
BT said – “We can’t even defeat some barbarians in Iraq and Afghanistan so we will retreat back to our borders”
Only the democrats (like you) want the US military to get beat, and have to retreat.
Urban warfare is very tough, we are doing a pretty good job over there. and I know that you hate to hear it but the surge is showing signs that the tide is turning. Iran hasn’t helped any either, they continue to export (into Iraq) weapons, like guns, rpgs, and enhanced IED’s.
Iran is currently fighting the US military by Proxy, but we cant go after Iraq because (non intelligent) people see Bush as a war-monger, and think that he is the one causing all the trouble over there….and so they (including the democratic congress) try and see Iran as the good guy, and our President, as the bad guy.
I sure hope a republican stays in the white house, cause if not…..were in for some very rough times ahead.
I’m pushing for Mit Romney, Rudy is a close second.
As oil and other other vital strategic energy resources become even more valuable to the explosive growth of China’s economy, they will certainly move to exploit the resources of weaker nation states in their back yard.Malaysia, Brunei and other energy players in the S. China Sea are vulnerable to a China that may feel emboldened to move against them if they feel their economy or national security is threatened by unstable oil prices.
In years to come, I’m not so sure the US will come to the aid of these states even if China is still dependent on US trade..by that time, they may be holding so much US debt we are obliged to do nothing to upset the status quo.
‘j house’ – said “I’m not so sure the US will come to the aid of these states even if China is still dependent on US trade..by that time, they may be holding so much US debt we are obliged to do nothing to upset the status quo.”
I hate that the US has so much debt, that is something that every american wants to get rid of. I relize that its nearly immpossible to do at a time of war….but still. While the war on terrorism will be long lasting, thats not what sucking massive funds….Iraq, is.
Hopefully in a year or 2 we will begin widthdrawing from Iraq, and have 95% of our troops out of there in around 4 years, and hopefully that is when the red ink turns black.