Scramjet Passes Milestone

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There is no need for using the internal mounts of the F-35; it has external hard points that can handle both the Tomahawk and Storm Shadow.<br /><br />If you look carefully at the X-51a image below you'll see that it does indeed have a SRM and I doubt sincerely it would not achieve ignition velocity for the scramjet.<br /><br />Hypersonics don't need an explosive warhead (payload), they are evolving as kinetic energy weapons. This method is used now for anti-armor missiles but is also used in anti-missile weapons and projectiles for the rail guns being developed by the Navy. Speed kills <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /><br /><br />I also want to address your heated boundary layer theory. Yes, a hypersonic recon drone (not the x-51) would have a thermal boundary layer while it's <i>in the atmosphere</i>, but that's not likely its recon flight profile <i>over the target</i>. In that mission it's very likely to be in a suborbital trajectory outside 99.x% of the atmosphere and coasting. Here the usual optics would work just fine and data could be relayed by military satellite just as with Global Hawk or the Predator. <br /><br />Basically it would be a temporary satellite with launch-on-need capability.<br /><br />No restart necessary if it's disposable like the x-51a. Just let it burn up on re-entry or use destruct charges or both. If not then engine restart will have to be factored in.<br /><br />Detection by radar is one thing, getting an interceptor to altitude & speed before it's mission is completed is another. <br /><br />As for the diplomatic problems of using Tridents vs. hypersonics I still maintain the latter is less problematic. I say this because;<br /><br />1. Tridents use a polar trajectory that would put them over at least Russia and probably China too in the latter half of their flight. Putin has already stated this kind of overflight is extremely problematic and I doubt the Chinese feel any different.<br /><br />2. The Navy's plan calls for arming Ohio cl <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>