Context
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully conducted its 2nd experimental flight to demonstrate Air Breathing Propulsion Technology.
About Air Breathing Propulsion System:
- The rocket carries fuel but no on-board oxidiser, using atmospheric oxygen as the oxidiser.
- Advantages: Makes rockets lighter and more efficient.
- Limitations: Can only be used within the denser layers of the Earth’s atmosphere (up to 70 km altitude).
- Beyond this, rockets must switch to stages with both fuel and an on-board oxidiser.
Types of Air-Breathing Propulsion
- Ramjet
- Operates on supersonic combustion.
- Absence of any rotator; relies on forward motion to compress incoming air.
- Effective at supersonic speeds.
- Scramjet
- Upgraded version of the Ramjet.
- Generates thrust through supersonic airflow and combustion.
- Performs best at hypersonic speeds (greater than Mach 5).
- In 2023, India became the 4th country to successfully demonstrate flight testing of a Scramjet engine.
- Dual-Mode Ramjet (DMRJ)
- Combines features of both ramjet and scramjet.
- Transforms from a ramjet to a scramjet over the Mach 4-8 range.
- Efficient in both subsonic and supersonic combustor modes.
Source:
The Hindu
Previous Year Question
Consider the following statements:
1. Ballistic missiles are jet-propelled at subsonic speeds throughout their flights, while cruise missiles are rocket-powered only in the initial phase of flight.
2. Agni-V is a medium-range supersonic cruise missile, while BrahMos is a solid-fuelled intercontinental ballistic missile.
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2023 Prelims]
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (d)
