Posted on 07/11/2025 8:24:47 AM PDT by Red Badger
A new Chinese hypersonic engine could cut long-haul flights to under an hour, pushing aircraft to unprecedented speeds. This breakthrough in propulsion technology might reshape global travel and military strategy.
China Unveils an Engine Capable of an Astonishing 20,000 KM/H, That Can Circle the Globe in Just 2 Hours | The Daily Galaxy --Great Discoveries Channel
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A new hypersonic engine developed in China could revolutionize air travel by reducing long-haul flight times to mere minutes. Capable of reaching Mach 16—approximately 20,000 km/h (12,250 mph)—this propulsion system represents a significant leap in aerospace engineering.
Developed at the Beijing Power Machinery Institute, this breakthrough has been documented in the Journal of Propulsion Technology. Researchers claim the engine is more fuel-efficient and stable than previous hypersonic designs, overcoming some of the major challenges that have long hindered this technology.
A Major Leap Beyond Supersonic Travel
For decades, supersonic aircraft like Concorde pushed the boundaries of speed, but their efficiency and fuel consumption issues limited their success. China’s latest development moves beyond Mach 2 travel, bringing hypersonic flight closer to reality.
The engine operates at 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) above Earth’s surface, using a dual-mode detonation process. At speeds up to Mach 7, it functions through a rotary detonation system, where a continuous shockwave combusts fuel more efficiently than traditional jet engines. Once it exceeds Mach 7, it shifts into oblique detonation mode, ensuring sustained high-speed performance with greater stability.
According to researchers, this approach could achieve up to 80% energy conversion efficiency, far exceeding the 20–30% efficiency of conventional engines. Addressing fuel consumption and stability challenges, this technology moves one step closer to practical hypersonic aviation.
The engine was developed at the Beijing Power Machinery Institute. Image Scmp
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A Revolution in Global Transportation
If successfully integrated into commercial aircraft, hypersonic propulsion could drastically reduce flight times. A journey from Paris to New York could take less than an hour, and a London-to-Sydney trip could be completed in 90 minutes instead of the usual 22 hours.
The potential extends beyond passenger travel—cargo transport at these speeds could enable near-instantaneous global deliveries, reshaping supply chains and international trade.
The ability to transport goods across vast distances in minutes would eliminate logistical bottlenecks, benefiting industries that depend on rapid shipments, such as medical supply chains and high-value manufacturing.
The engine operates in two modes. Image: Eurasian Times
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Military and Defense Implications
The military applications of hypersonic propulsion are equally significant. Aircraft and missiles traveling at Mach 16 would be nearly impossible to intercept with current air defense systems, raising concerns about strategic deterrence and national security.
Unlike conventional fighter jets or ballistic missiles, hypersonic vehicles move so quickly that traditional radar tracking and interception technologies may become obsolete.
China’s advancement in this field is expected to intensify competition among global superpowers. The United States, Russia, and Europe are already investing heavily in hypersonic research, but China’s breakthrough may accelerate the race for high-speed military dominance.
The ability to evade detection and strike with unprecedented speed could fundamentally change the nature of warfare, forcing nations to rethink their defense strategies.
Engineering Challenges and Future Developments
Despite its potential, significant engineering challenges must be resolved before hypersonic travel becomes a practical reality. Extreme heat and pressure at Mach 16 require advanced thermal protection systems to prevent aircraft from breaking apart.
Materials capable of withstanding these conditions must be developed, and cooling mechanisms must be perfected to ensure structural integrity during flight.
Another major hurdle is stability and control. Previous detonation engines have struggled with shockwave management, making them difficult to operate consistently. Researchers must refine the technology further to ensure that hypersonic engines remain stable across various speed ranges.
Economic feasibility is also a key concern. Although the engine is theoretically more fuel-efficient than traditional propulsion systems, developing cost-effective aircraft that can safely operate at these speeds remains a significant challenge. If the technology proves too expensive, commercial adoption could be delayed for decades.
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Oh yes, they are great for making flight sim stuff ( I wish my soldering skills were up to snuff ).
But copying others IP and selling it more cheaply is not a good example of "innovation" unless you are Microsoft.
IMHO the only innovation that has come out of China are drones, specifically from DJI.
Their drone technology is unrivaled and they are years ahead of everyone else.
I think DJI succeeded despite coming from the CCP, probably because the all knowing central planners are too stupid to realize what DJI did until they dominated the market, and they have tried to interfere with them ever since.
“I look at all the stolen tech, liners, flaps and seals on the nozzle. Chem milled titanium engine casing. Like the poster above; where did they get this tech?”
That is a Pratt & Whitney F-22 engine.
SiAlON ceramic.
Loral and Bernard Schwartz (and Bill Clinton).
-PJ
“at that speed the friction generated temperature would be about 15000K”
Not at 18 miles high.
Well I just told Copilot to caculate it based on standard international flight altitudes... those are 5 1/2-7 1/2 miles up
KH/H = Kissing Men per hour?!
That’s a lot of men!
“Can you imagine the g’s in a small 2 minute turn at speed?”
How many?
10,000 spies in all of the major colleges and research centers in USA for thirty years. Everything they have was stolen, and never has paid a dime in patent infringements.
Plus our manufacturing was shipped over there along with technology. Traitors all.
War is inevitable.
10,000 spies in all of the major colleges and research centers in USA for thirty years. Everything they have was stolen, and never has paid a dime in patent infringements.
Plus our manufacturing was shipped over there along with technology. Traitors all.
War is inevitable.
Again, > 18 miles.
By theft.
Who did they steal that technology from?
No blacks to hold them back
“ They are smart people who know how to do advanced math.”
How do they plan on keeping passengers and the pilots from blacking out? If the plane has to turn, wouldn’t that pull G’s?
What are they going to make the airframe out of? The SR71 at mach5 could barely handle the heat.
“ Oh sure...Super/ Hypersonic over ANY major city or towns? IIRC this was the HUGE concorde problem. Sure London to NY is 2 hrs.. Then it still takes 3 to get from NY to Chi.. Do we really need hypersonic Temu deliveries?”
Concorde flew over my house every Sunday at 2:00 pm for years…No sonic boom. That would have occurred over the Atlantic Ocean I believe, not when it was closing in on landing at IAD.
The SR-71 outside is titanium.......
Like all other supersonic craft, they do slow down a great deal to land.
Hmmm...
Reminds me of when Daenerys Targaryen stepped out of the fire holding her three dragons...
Big trouble coming?
I doubt that this engine, real or not, is being developed for commercial travel, or even cargo.
As one poster said, that speed is just a tad short of what’s necessary for Low Earth Orbit.
Put a couple of these on a spacecraft and you can take off and land on Earth after visiting a space station. They have one.......................
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