VELOCITY_THRESHOLD_LOG

Hypersonic flight (Mach 5+) isn't just "flying faster"—it is an entirely different regime of physics. At these speeds, air doesn't have time to "move out of the way," creating intense shockwaves and chemical changes in the atmosphere.

HYPERSONIC CHALLENGES

THE HEAT BARRIER

• Effect: Kinetic energy turns into thermal energy.
• Result: Leading edges can exceed 2000°C.
• Solution: Ceramic matrix composites and active cooling skins.

PROPULSION: THE SCRAMJET

• Mechanism: Supersonic Combustion Ramjet.
• Advantage: No moving parts; uses the drone's speed to compress air.
• Constraint: Only functions above Mach 4; requires a "booster" to reach speed.