A numerical and experimental investigation on the flow characteristics in the rectangular duct of an MHD propulsion system has been carried out. In numerical analysis, three-dimensional, steady-state, viscous, incompressible electrically conducting fluid flow under the influence of uniformly applied magnetic and electric fields was treated using a finite-difference technique. It was found from the numerical study that when the Lorentz force is weak, the typical parabolic velocity profile under a laminar flow condition changes to an M shaped profile near the electrode region and that the pressure increases linearly from the inlet toward the outlet of the MHD duct under constant electro-magnetic field. In experiment, thrust of the MHD propulsion system can be controlled easily by varying electrode current. The measured pressure gradient along the MHD duct is proportional to the Lorentz force, which is in agreement with the numerical results.