China tested the first ever drone equipped with a rotary detonation engine - the propulsion system will open the way to the creation of hypersonic aircraft and missiles

A private Chinese company, Thrust-to-Weight Ratio Engine, was able to test a rotary detonation engine on a drone. This is the first such test. Previously, only bench tests were conducted.

Here's What We Know

The rotary detonation engine will open the way to the development of hypersonic transport systems, including aircraft and missiles. Another feature of the propulsion system is reduced fuel consumption.

The company's Thrust-to-Weight Ratio Engine was developed jointly with the Industrial Technology Research Institute of Chongqing University. It was named FB-1 Rotating Detonation Engine.

An unmanned aerial vehicle of the aircraft type, which was 5 metres long, was used to test the propulsion system. The test took place in Gansu province, but the location was not specified. One of the photos shows the drone taxiing along a runway. We have no information on the flight test at this time.

Detonation engines, like the FB-1 Rotating Detonation Engine, are capable of hypersonic speeds, saving up to a third of the fuel. A strength is the ability to control thrust from zero to maximum, something jet engines cannot boast.

The Thrust-to-Weight Ratio Engine has previously reported achieving a thrust of 1000 N (~100kg), which would be sufficient for drone applications. The FB-1 Rotating Detonation Engine is expected to go into production within a couple of years.

Source: scmp