A tiny unmanned Nasa “scramjet” soared above the Pacific Ocean at nearly 10 times the speed of sound – almost 7,000mph – in a record-breaking demonstration of a radical new engine technology.

Nasa is due to launch an experimental jet over the Pacific today in a bid to reach a record 7,000 mph.

Three years after its first test flight ended in an explosion, NASA yesterday successfully launched an experimental jet that the agency believes reached a record-setting speed of about 5,000mph.

A new computer system could allow passenger jets to fly in 'flocks' to save fuel.