Hypersonic aircraft, both manned and unmanned, operating in the sensible atmosphere, will be able to function at speeds up to Mach numbers of 12. For such vehicles, new propulsion technologies, control techniques, and fuel handling (cryogenics) capabilities will be required. Figure 11 presents essential and enhancing and supporting technologies for this class of aircraft.
The hypersonic aircraft illustrations (interceptor, missiles, and a transport) Figures 12 through IS, reflect potential military and civil vehicle ConceptS. These aircraft would make use of multicycle propulsion systems for high total flight envelope efficiency and new materials and structures to allow high heat loads and low weight for both airframe and engine. Cruise Mach numbers of 6 to 8 would he realized with ranges of hundreds of miles for the interceptors to thousands of miles for the other aircraft. The propulsion concepts include airturbo ramjetlrockets and hydrogen erpansion cyrojets for the lower hypersonic speeds. For very high speeds, supersonic combustion ramjets, or "scramjets," would be utilized.
Integration of the airframe and propulsion system are important for low total vehicle drag and proper conditioning of the intake air for propulsion system operation as well as for the handling of the hot exhaust gases.