What's Happening?
GE Aerospace has successfully tested two rotating detonation combustion engines—a missile-scale ramjet and a dual-mode ramjet for high-speed aircraft. The tests, conducted at GE's Aerospace Research Center in New York, demonstrated a threefold increase in engine airflow compared to previous hypersonic technology. The development was enabled by collaboration between GE Aerospace engineers and GE Aerospace Innoveering, a company specializing in hypersonic propulsion.
Why It's Important?
The successful demonstration of rotating detonation ramjets marks a significant milestone in hypersonic propulsion technology. These advancements could lead to more efficient and powerful engines for high-speed aircraft and missiles, enhancing military capabilities. The scalability of GE's designs suggests potential for widespread application in defense and aerospace industries.
What's Next?
GE Aerospace plans to continue developing its hypersonic propulsion programs, with the dual-mode ramjet identified as the GE26. This propulsion system is one of two options for DARPA's Next-Generation Responsive Strike demonstrator, indicating future applications in military operations.
