Experimental jet tested at 10 times speed of sound

CANBERRA, June 15 (Reuters) An experimental jet engine has been successfully tested at speeds of up to 11,000 km per hour, or 10 times the speed of sound, during trials in Australia's outback, defence scientists said on Friday.

The experimental scramjet engine is an air-breathing supersonic combustion engine being developed by Australian and US defence scientists that researchers hope will lead to super-high speed flight.

Scientists from Australia's Defence Science and Technology Organisation and the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), used a conventional rocket to launch the scramjet high above the Woomera test site.

The engine was then tested as it reached speeds of Mach 10.

Scramjets need a rocket to propel the vehicle to high-speed before the engine can take over. They also need to operate in the thin atmosphere far above the altitude of commercial airliners.

''All the indications are it was a success, and we have some very happy scientists,'' an Australian defence spokesman told Reuters today.

Flight data will be examined over coming weeks and compared to ground tests conducted in the United States, DARPA chief researcher Steven Walker said in a statement.

''We are pleased with this joint effort between the US and Australia and believe that a hypersonic airplane could be a reality in the not too distant future,'' Walker said.

Scientists say the scramjet engine could lead to high-speed flights on long-range missions, as well as new low-cost ways to launch satellites into space.

REUTERS SLD ND1454