Hypersonic flight

DST Group has an active program to develop hypersonics, especially supersonic combustion ramjet (scramjet) propulsion to enable sustained high-speed flight in the atmosphere.

Hypersonics has the potential to revolutionise global air travel and trade. Hypersonic-powered aircraft could potentially cross the globe between Sydney and London in two hours.

In 2012, our hypersonics program demonstrated and validated the key technologies required to enable the sustained operation of aerospace systems within the atmosphere at speeds exceeding five times the speed of sound.

HiFIRE

DST's work in hypersonics is exemplified by our collaboration in the Hypersonic International Flight Research Experimentation (HIFiRE) program.

The program involves up to 10 flight experiments to further the fundamental scientific understanding of hypersonic flight, including related technologies in propulsion, combustion, materials, sensors, guidance and control.

The knowledge gained from these trials will be applied to test advanced air-breathing hypersonic propulsion engines, scramjets.