GE Aerospace Supersonic Ramjet Flight Test Milestone

GE Aerospace completed three captive‑carry supersonic ramjet flight tests at Kennedy Space Center, Florida.

GE Aerospace ran three supersonic captive‑carry flights of its Atmospheric Test of Launched Airbreathing System (ATLAS) Flight Test Vehicle at Kennedy Space Center, Florida. The tests used a Starfighters F‑104 aircraft to carry the test vehicle and validated solid‑fuel ramjet propulsion technology for potential use in future high‑speed, long‑range munitions and aircraft.

Why the supersonic ramjet tests matter

Conducted under funding provided through the U.S. Defense Production Act, the captive‑carry campaign marks a major milestone in U.S. high‑speed propulsion research. GE Aerospace said the flights proved key concepts for the ATLAS program while informing next steps for integrated testing and maturation of ramjet systems.

The company also announced investments to expand test infrastructure across multiple U.S. sites to support advanced propulsion programs. Using existing jet platforms, like the F‑104 Starfighter, for captive‑carry trials is a common approach to validate air‑breathing engines before powered release and free‑flight trials.

• Key point: the supersonic ramjet tests used a Starfighters F‑104 captive‑carry platform and focused on solid‑fuel ramjet validation.

GE’s announcement highlights the layered nature of hypersonic and high‑supersonic development: incremental flight experiments, dedicated ground testing, and infrastructure build‑out. While these captive‑carry flights stop short of powered ramjet ignition in free flight, they supply data critical to engine design, aerodynamics, and safety procedures for later phases.

Expect further test phases as ATLAS moves toward powered flight demonstrations and integration with delivery systems. For now, the three captive‑carry flights at Kennedy Space Center add a tangible technical step forward for U.S. air‑breathing propulsion research.