Japan has taken a new step toward developing a hypersonic aircraft, successfully conducting ground tests of an advanced ramjet engine
The tests were carried out by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency in collaboration with Waseda University, the University of Tokyo, and Keio University. The goal of the project is to develop an aircraft capable of flying at speeds up to five times the speed of sound.
According to reports, the experiments were conducted at the Kakuda Space Center, where scientists used a wind tunnel to simulate hypersonic flight conditions. During the tests, the performance of the ramjet engine, control systems, and the aircraft’s thermal protection system were carefully evaluated.
At Mach 5—approximately 6,100 km/h—the air temperature around the aircraft’s body can reach about 1,000°C. However, the thermal protection system was able to maintain acceptable internal conditions and protect onboard electronic systems from extreme heat.
Researchers say these tests could play an important role in advancing ultra-high-speed flight technology and strengthening Japan’s competitiveness in the aerospace sector.