The first-ever test of a drone equipped with a rotary detonation engine took place in China
The power plant will open the way to the creation of hypersonic aircraft and missiles
The private Chinese company Thrust-to-Weight Ratio Engine was able to test a rotary detonation engine on an unmanned aerial vehicle. This is the first test of its kind. Previously, only bench tests were conducted.
The rotary detonation engine will pave the way for the creation of hypersonic transportation systems, including airplanes and rockets. Another feature of the power plant is its reduced fuel consumption.
The company’s Thrust-to-Weight Ratio Engine was developed in collaboration with the Chongqing University Research Institute of Industrial Technology. It was named FB-1 Rotating Detonation Engine.
An airplane-type unmanned aerial vehicle was used to test the power plant, which was 5 meters long. The tests took place in Gansu province, but the location was not specified. One of the photos shows the drone taxiing down the runway. We have no information about flight tests at this time.
Detonation engines such as the FB-1 Rotating Detonation Engine are capable of reaching hypersonic speeds, saving up to a third of fuel. A strong point is the ability to control thrust from zero to maximum, which jet engines cannot boast of.
The Thrust-to-Weight Ratio Engine has previously reported achieving a thrust of 1000 N (~100 kg), which will be sufficient for use in drones. It is expected that the FB-1 Rotating Detonation Engine will be put into production within a few years.
