The UAV received an engine from Venus Aerospace that allows it to reach a speed of Mach 0.9.
Venus Aerospace announced successful testing of a rotary detonation engine (RDE) mounted on a small drone. Interesting Engineering reported that during the experiment, the UAV flew more than 16 km at subsonic speeds and proved its effectiveness.
The drone, 2.4 m long and weighing 136 kg, was flying at a speed of 0.9 Mach at an altitude of 3658 m. The engine was powered by hydrogen peroxide, which allowed it to develop a thrust of approximately 1,200 pounds (5,338 Newtons) without exceeding Mach 1 (1,225 km/h). The drone was launched from an Aero L-29 Delfin aircraft. After the tests, Venus Aerospace announced that they could create a combined cycle rocket engine based on the RDE.
The tests demonstrated successful flight control, stability, telemetry, airborne launch and operation of one of the legs of the newest rotary-burst rocket propulsion system. The use of an air-launched platform and wing-mounted missile configuration allowed engineers to test the RDE as a hypersonic engine. The team now has enough data to fine-tune it for the next flight.
RDE engines have high thermodynamic efficiency and a compact design, making them promising for use. Not only the USA, but also other countries actively use such installations. For example, China recently announced that it has developed a rocket that could theoretically reach a speed of Mach 16 (19,601 km/h). Japan reported progress on RDE development in 2021. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is working with Venus Aerospace and Raytheon to develop such systems.
However, RDEs work very differently from traditional engines such as rocket engines. In a typical rocket engine, fuel and oxidizer mix and ignite in the combustion chamber, creating a powerful exhaust plume. When operating RDE, detonation waves propagating along a circular channel are used. This detonation wave is powered by the injection of fuel and oxidizer, which creates a shock wave that propagates outward at supersonic speeds.
Important
Next, the rotary explosion rocket engine (RDRE) propulsion system will be tested. Developers hope to prove in practice that RDRE is an engine capable of developing hypersonic technologies.
This type of engine is planned to be installed on a 3.7 m long drone, and the first tests are planned to be carried out in 2025. This larger UAV will need to reach speeds of Mach 4 or 5, as engineers plan. Venus’ long-term goals are to develop a Mach 9 large machine and a Mach 2+ RDE commercial airliner.
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Source: Focus
Ashley Fitzgerald is an accomplished journalist in the field of technology. She currently works as a writer at 24 news breaker. With a deep understanding of the latest technology developments, Ashley’s writing provides readers with insightful analysis and unique perspectives on the industry.