A drone equipped with an engine that utilizes explosive force to propel the aircraft at speeds multiple times faster than sound has successfully completed its first flight at an airport in Gansu Province.
The FB-1 Rotating Detonation Engine (RDE) was developed by the Chongqing University Technology Research Institute in collaboration with the private company Thrust-to-Weight Ratio Engine (TWR) based in Shenzhen. The engine was activated and tested during the drone’s taxiing phase on a runway approximately 5 meters long. It remains unclear whether the engine will continue to operate during flight, as reported by the South China Morning Post on September 25.
Drone equipped with a rotating detonation engine before the first flight. (Photo: Bilibili).
The activation experiment of the engine also marks the drone’s first flight, built by the university in collaboration with TWR. Previously, a series of ground tests were conducted with the RDE engine before it was mounted on the drone for its inaugural flight. The engine uses kerosene fuel and rapid ignition technology, capable of providing the power needed for the aircraft to accelerate from 0 to speeds several times that of sound.
Conventional turbojet engines use fans to intake air, creating significant drag at speeds above Mach 3 (2,302 km/h). Ramjet engines can help aircraft exceed this limit by compressing the incoming air based on their shape but cannot provide better combustion efficiency. The RDE has the potential to be an optimal solution. This new engine features an annular combustion chamber, where controlled explosions generate shock waves that lead to the complete combustion of fuel and air.
Explosions from the RDE are significantly more efficient than those from turbojet engines and ramjets, offering revolutionary potential for supersonic flight while consuming less fuel. Unlike scramjet engines, which typically require speeds above Mach 4 (4,939 km/h) to ignite, the RDE can start from 0 km/h and is easier to maintain. However, this technology also presents challenges. The interior of the engine must withstand the impacts of frequent shock waves, necessitating high standards for structural integrity and material durability.
The successful test could have widespread implications for applications ranging from commercial space rockets and high-speed drones to military aircraft and guided missiles. According to TWR, their RDE engine achieves a thrust of 1,000 Newtons, with products expected to launch within the next two years.
