Hypersonic missiles could soon fly faster, farther, and cheaper thanks to a new ramjet engine developed by GE Aerospace and Lockheed Martin.
The liquid-fueled rotating detonation ramjet features a compact design that frees up space for extra fuel or payload while cutting manufacturing costs.
Its smaller footprint, combined with higher thrust and improved fuel efficiency, allows missiles to travel farther without adding weight or size.
The engine also ignites at lower speeds, letting smaller boosters start the ramjet and simplifying the overall system.
Unlike conventional ramjets that rely on steady combustion, this engine burns fuel and air through continuous detonation, generating strong thrust at high speeds.
The result: quicker strikes on high-priority targets and a lighter engine that leaves room for added range.
Recent Demo
At GE Aerospace’s Niskayuna facility in New York, the companies ran direct-connect tests to study how the engine behaves during ignition and steady flight.
Air was fed into the inlet to simulate supersonic flight at various speeds and altitudes, including thin-air conditions where combustion is challenging.
“GE Aerospace’s hypersonic capabilities continue to advance at a rapid pace, and this collaboration with Lockheed Martin is another step forward in our journey,” said Mark Rettig, Vice President and General Manager of Edison Works Advanced Programs at GE Aerospace.
“The testing on the rotating detonation ramjet and inlet exceeded expectations, and we are excited about this collaboration to continue maturing our advanced air-breathing hypersonic propulsion technologies.”
The two companies plan to continue developing the ramjet through 2026.
