Monica Jackson
Aerojet Rocketdyne has concluded a series of tests for a new dual-mode ramjet/scramjet engine in partnership with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, NASA and the U.S. Air Force.
The company said Monday the DMRJ demonstrated its ability to power a vehicle from a dormant state to hypersonic flight regime of Mach 5 or higher when operated with a gas turbine engine in a turbine-based combined cycle propulsion system.
The assessments also showcased the capabilities of an Aerojet analytics tool set designed to mimic complex DMRJ flow fields across various applications.
The efforts are part of an agreement with DARPA, NASA and the Air Force to manufacture hypersonic propulsion systems.
Aerojet Rocketdyne CEO and President Eileen Drake said the company’s more than 30-year experience as a hypersonic propulsion technology developer can contribute to helping the Defense Department meet its goal of prioritizing the development of hypersonic technologies.
The company performed the DMRJ tests at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va.
