The “revolutionary” air-breathing engine could, in theory, lift an aircraft from a runway to more than 30km (18.6 miles) into the stratosphere and continuously accelerate it to 16 times the speed of sound.
At this velocity, even the longest intercontinental flights could take just one or two hours while consuming less fuel compared with conventional jet engines.
(Read full article using https://www.removepaywall.com)
This article is bullshit: they’re reporting that a blueprint was made. No demonstration, no proof of it working.
Rotary detonation isn’t a new concept and GE has demonstrated a rotary detonation scramjet for 0 - Mach 5.
https://www.geaerospace.com/press-release/other-news-information/ge-aerospace-demonstrates-hypersonic-dual-mode-ramjet-rotating
If you really think that 0 to Mach 16 is within reach with current technology RDEs I have a bridge to sell you.
Darpa has all the money of God and they’ve been throwing billions at the exact problem of rotary detonation. Everybody knows that detonation is more fuel efficient than deflagration and that turbine engines are holding jet aircraft back from hypersonic flight.
When they make a Mach 16 demonstrator I’ll believe them. Until then I’m still very excited for the demonstrated and actual capabilities of RDE Scramjets.