Aerospace Propulsion Equipment—Mach 2 to 5: A review of the Mach 2 plus aircraft and missiles now in being or under development

Already in service or under development are over a dozen or more aircraft and missiles in the general Mach 2 to 5 bracket using air breathing propulsion systems. Other major high speed projects are also at the study stage. While the subsonic combustion ramjet can span this field and beyond, the turbine engine has to transmute through a number of basic configurations to maintain an optimum mode of propulsion as Mach number increases. At present the ramjet is confined to use in missiles and the turbine engine is primarily an aircraft power unit. The trend is apparent already, however, for the turbine engine to move closer to a ramjet cycle when used above Mach 3. The following paper summarizes the features of the major high speed aircraft and missiles in being or soon to be built.