Advanced Airbreathing Propulsion Cycles For High Speed Flight

Sustained high speed flight cannot be achieved by improvements in traditional turbojet/turbofan propulsion systems. Instead, propulsion cycles optimized for high speed flight are required. These include combined cycles such as the air turboramjet for the lower speed regime, and scramjet-type cycles for the higher speed regime. Characteristics of these advanced airbreathing propulsion cycles are discussed, and propulsion-related technology issues are addressed.