China just tested a hypersonic engine powered by explosions; could this change the future of warfare?

Economic Times

26-05-2025

TIL Creatives Hypersonic weapons are seen as the next big thing in military technology. They are hard to detect, harder to intercept, and capable of carrying nuclear or conventional warheads. Countries like the U.S., Russia, and China are racing to build the most advanced hypersonic systems. If China's claims are accurate, they could now have an edge over the U.S. The RDE could power next-generation missiles, spaceplanes, or high-speed jets. China says it has taken a big step forward in hypersonic engine technology. This could change the future of high-speed flight and military power. The announcement has caught global attention, especially among major powers like the U.S. and Russia.Chinese scientists claim they have successfully tested a 'Rotating Detonation Engine' (RDE) that can power vehicles at hypersonic speeds — more than five times the speed of sound. This new engine uses shockwaves to create controlled explosions. These explosions produce more thrust while using less fuel compared to traditional engines.The key advantage? RDEs are lighter, more efficient, and faster. If used in missiles or aircraft, they could travel farther and strike faster, before enemies can react.
Interestingly, the concept behind this engine isn't entirely new. It traces back to research by the U.S. Air Force and the University of Michigan in the late 1950s. American scientists had originally proposed the Oblique Detonation Engine (ODE) as a possible solution for hypersonic propulsion. NASA explored this idea further in the 1970s, targeting speeds up to Mach 16. However, due to the technical challenges of stabilizing detonation and managing fuel-air mixing, the U.S. abandoned development of the technology.The U.S. Navy also explored advanced concepts like the 'dream shell' in 2012, designed to travel at Mach 5 using satellite navigation. That project continued until 2017 but was eventually scrapped by 2021.
The breakthrough was made by a teamfrom China's National University of Defense Technology. According to Chinese media reports, they tested a small RDE in a wind tunnel. The engine reportedly ran steadily for 600 seconds (10 minutes), a record for this kind of engine. They also managed to maintain high thrust while keeping the engine temperature under control.The engine used ethylene and oxygen as fuel and burned the mixture in a continuous detonation wave — a process that is extremely fast and very difficult to stabilize.
Hypersonic weapons are seen as the next big thing in military technology. They are hard to detect, harder to intercept, and capable of carrying nuclear or conventional warheads. Countries like the U.S., Russia, and China are racing to build the most advanced hypersonic systems.
If China's claims are accurate, they could now have an edge over the U.S. The RDE could power next-generation missiles, spaceplanes, or high-speed jets. While the Chinese test sounds impressive, independent verification is still lacking. China tends to keep military developments secret. International experts haven't confirmed the findings yet. However, if China has achieved a stable and scalable version of this engine, it could mark a major shift in global military power.
China's interest in hypersonic tech is well known. This engine could pave the way from lab testing to real-world weapons. If so, it may intensify the global arms race in hypersonic warfare, and rewrite the balance of power in the skies.