GE Aerospace and Lockheed Martin completed a series of engine tests demonstrating the viability of a liquid-fueled rotating detonation ramjet for use in hypersonic missiles, the first initiative between the companies under a broader joint technology development arrangement.
The companies said this fuel-efficient rotating detonation ramjet promises to fly missiles faster—including at hypersonic speeds—and farther while decreasing costs compared to other ramjet options.
The compact design enables increased fuel or payload capacity and lowers the cost of production, while improved fuel efficiency and thrust generation extends range. Ignition is also achieved at a lower speed, so smaller boosters can be used for ramjet start.
The rotating detonation ramjet combusts fuel and air through detonation waves instead of the traditional combustion methods used in ramjet engines today. The companies said this propulsion system generates high thrust for super- and hypersonic speeds to engage high-value, time-sensitive targets, with a smaller engine size and weight that boosts range.
The ramjet features GE Aerospace’s rotating detonation combustion system and Lockheed Martin’s tactical inlet that enables high-speed airflow to the combustor. The companies conducted direct connect tests in ramjet ignition and cruise conditions at the GE Aerospace Research Center in Niskayuna, New York, to demonstrate the operation of an air-breathing rotating detonation ramjet for missile applications. Engineers injected air into the inlet to represent supersonic flight at various speeds and altitudes, including high cruising altitudes where the thin air challenges combustion.
GE Aerospace and Lockheed Martin will continue ramjet maturation in 2026.
