Abstract: The combustion chambers of ramjet-powered missiles must be thermally insulated to protect adjacent equipment from combustion gas temperatures of 3000.degree. F. or greater. Thermal protection is accomplished in the present disclosure by the hot wall carbon/carbon combustor, and an intermediate-temperature insulation layer composed of "MIN-K 2000" a proprietary product of the Manville Corporation. A portion of the "MIN-K 2000" insulation is allowed to experience temperatures greater than its maximum rated value of 2,000.degree. F. and thermally degrade in the one-time use to which the disclosure is put. However, virgin layers of the "MIN-K" insulation still protect the structure, fuel and electrical components adjacent to the combustion chamber from heat shorts. The present disclosure minimizes the weight and volume of the thermal protection system, resulting in increased missile performance.