Venus Aerospace, a US startup developing hypersonic propulsion technologies, has unveiled a new ramjet system, which it calls “Venus Detonation Ramjet 2000 lb. Thrust Engine” (or “VDR2”).
The engine can be fitted into aircraft or drones, and it is capable of reaching speeds of up to Mach 6 (six times the speed of sound) and cruising at Mach 4.
A ramjet is a type of engine with a structurally simple air-ingesting design capable of achieving high speeds. Ramjets only work when in forward motion, though, and usually require some other propulsion system to accelerate them before they can kick into action.
The announcement was made during the UP. Summit, an aerospace technology event taking place in Bentonville, Arkansas in the United States between September 30 – October 2, 2024.
Venus Aerospace is working on several projects focusing on the reusability of its propulsion systems, which is expected to help drop the cost of hypersonic travel and power applications in space and cargo delivery.
In addition to the VDR2 engine, the company has also developed another ramjet-based propulsion system called the Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine (RDRE) and it is working on a concept for a hypersonic commercial aircraft, which it calls the Stargazer M400.
In February 2024, Venus Aerospace conducted a successful flight test of its Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine fitted into a drone, which reached a speed of Mach 0.9. The first hypersonic flight test drone of the newly presented VDR2 propulsion system is expected in 2025.
