2023-10-13 14:04:00
Darpa called on the RTX company to build a rotary detonation engine. This propulsion system should make it possible to increase the speed and range of the missiles, while reducing production costs.
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The Darpa (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency), the research branch of the United States Department of Defense, is embarking on the development of weapons powered by a rotary detonation engine. The engine will be called Gambit, and the agency has tapped RTX, formerly Raytheon Technologies, to build it.
Contrary to what the name might suggest, a rotary detonation engine has no moving parts since only the detonation makes rotations. Fuel and oxidizer are introduced simultaneously and continuously into the space between two coaxial cylinders. Combustioncombustion causes a supersonic detonation wave that rotates around the axis. This gives rise to pressurepressure escaping from one end of the coaxial cylinders, creating thrust.
More fuel-efficient technology
The Gambit engine might replace the gas turbines usually used, which have the disadvantage of being complex, heavy and composed of exotic elements. Conversely, the rotary detonation engine is much simpler, and is said to be 25% more fuel efficient. However, it is more unstable and noisier. This technology is already developed by other organizations, such as NASA for distant missions, as well as Venus Aerospace for its hypersonic aircraft.
The project is currently in phase 1, which involves designing the engine. In phase 2, RTX will have to manufacture and test a prototype. The goal is to create faster missiles with increased range, which might ultimately cost less to produce.
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