Radouga, the Russian missile builder based in the Doubna region of Moscow, presented at the Zhukovskiy show its experimental hypersonic missile, alias "GELA"--this time its actual self--developed between 1985 and 1992. Although it was not unveiled in its full-scaled real-life form until , the kerosine-propellant scramjet- powered missile had been presented in the form of a wind- tunnel-test mockup at the preceding show in 1993. Its flight tests also date back to 1993
As Valentin N. Troitsky, the project manager, explained it to us, the experimental missile, developed under funding provided by the Soviet Aeronautical Industry Ministry, has undergone only two flight tests, from Zhukovskiy. They proved successful. Jettisoned from a Tu-95 plane at an altitude of 8,000 m, the scramjet-powered missile--6 m long, 1.2 m in diameter, weight not disclosed- -accelerated from Mach 2.5 to Mach 5, attaining an altitude of 35,000 m. According to the builder, these initial tests were fully satisfying in that they enabled verification of the general operation of the scramjet engine, which is characterized by a semicircular fixed-cone air intake designed to be integrated under an aircraft fuselage. But lack of funding prevented continuation of the flight-test program to optimize the operating parameters (fuel consumption, pressure, flight envelope, etc) of the GELA kerosine-propellant scramjet-powered missile. [8 Sep 95, No. 1530, pp 20-25]
As Valentin N. Troitsky, the project manager, explained it to us, the experimental missile, developed under funding provided by the Soviet Aeronautical Industry Ministry, has undergone only two flight tests, from Zhukovskiy. They proved successful. Jettisoned from a Tu-95 plane at an altitude of 8,000 m, the scramjet-powered missile--6 m long, 1.2 m in diameter, weight not disclosed- -accelerated from Mach 2.5 to Mach 5, attaining an altitude of 35,000 m. According to the builder, these initial tests were fully satisfying in that they enabled verification of the general operation of the scramjet engine, which is characterized by a semicircular fixed-cone air intake designed to be integrated under an aircraft fuselage. But lack of funding prevented continuation of the flight-test program to optimize the operating parameters (fuel consumption, pressure, flight envelope, etc) of the GELA kerosine-propellant scramjet-powered missile. [8 Sep 95, No. 1530, pp 20-25]
