Editing Ramjet (section)

{{Short description|Supersonic atmospheric jet engine}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
[[File:Ramjet operation.svg|thumb|upright=1.2|Simple ramjet operation, with Mach numbers of flow shown]]
{{Seriesbox aircraft propulsion}}

A '''ramjet''' is a form of [[airbreathing jet engine]] that requires forward motion of the engine to provide air for combustion. Ramjets work most efficiently at [[supersonic speed]]s around {{convert|3|Mach|mph km/h|lk=in|-2}} and can operate up to {{convert|6|Mach|mph km/h|-2}}.

Ramjets can be particularly appropriate in uses requiring a compact mechanism for high-speed, such as [[missile]]s. Weapons designers are investigating ramjet technology for use in [[artillery]] shells to increase range; a 120&nbsp;mm ramjet-assisted mortar shell is thought to be able to travel {{convert|22|mi|km|abbr=on|order=flip}}.<ref name="ToV">{{cite book |last1=McNab |first1=Chris |last2=Keeter |first2=Hunter |title=Tools of Violence: Guns, Tanks and Dirty Bombs |chapter=Death from a Distance Artillery |location=[[Oxford, United Kingdom]] |publisher=[[Osprey Publishing]] |year=2008 |page=[https://archive.org/details/toolsofviolenceg0000mcna/page/145 145] |isbn=978-1846032257 |url=https://archive.org/details/toolsofviolenceg0000mcna |url-access=registration |access-date=February 12, 2016}}</ref> They have been used, though not efficiently, as [[tip jet]]s on the ends of [[helicopter]] rotors.<ref name="TIME 1965-11-26">{{cite news |title=Here Comes the Flying Stovepipe |magazine=[[TIME]] |publisher=[[Time Inc.]] |date=November 26, 1965 |url=https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,834721,00.html |access-date=March 5, 2024 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080408064246/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,834721,00.html |archive-date=April 8, 2008}}</ref>

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