Overview
- GE Aerospace and Lockheed Martin reported a demonstration of a liquid‑fueled rotating‑detonation ramjet integrated with a high‑speed tactical inlet.
- The effort targets the long‑standing efficiency gap in hypersonic propulsion by enabling dual‑mode operation as a ramjet at supersonic speeds and a scramjet at hypersonic speeds.
- Company statements cite roughly 25% efficiency gains over conventional combustion, with a smaller, lighter engine capable of operating at subsonic speeds.
- Lockheed’s inlet is designed to manage airflow across speeds and altitudes, using advanced computational fluid dynamics to handle complex shock interactions.
- The partners say the approach could allow smaller boosters and lower costs for future hypersonic missiles, though further testing and independent validation are still required.