Australian and U.S. defense scientists have successfully tested an air-breathing supersonic combustion jet engine that may be the future of air travel.

At this point, the engine must be carried into thin atmosphere via a rocket where it has been clocked at Mach10, or 6835 miles per hour.

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

The scramjet engine could lead to high-speed flights and even new low-cost ways to launch satellites into space.

Reuters