China has introduced an engine capable of reaching Mach 16 speeds, approximately 12,276 miles per hour (19,756 km per hour). This advancement was made possible by an oblique detonation engine (ODE) running on RP-3 jet fuel, a type of aviation kerosene. The successful tests were conducted at the JF-12 shock tunnel in Beijing, one of the largest and most advanced wind tunnels in the world.
The oblique detonation engine (ODE), which runs on RP-3 jet fuel — a common aviation kerosene — achieved this performance in a series of tests at the JF-12 shock tunnel in Beijing.
The JF-12 tunnel is one of the largest and most advanced facilities of its kind in the world, capable of replicating real hypersonic flight conditions. It operates under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) through its Institute of Mechanics.
As reported by SCMP, Unlike traditional scramjet engines, which struggle with flame-outs at extremely high speeds, the ODE uses shock waves to boost combustion. This innovation allows the engine to achieve faster and more stable performance. According to scientists from CAS, the ODE’s combustor is 85% shorter than that of a scramjet, which reduces the weight of aircraft and extends their flight range.
“The shock wave compresses and ignites the fuel-air mix so violently that it creates a self-reinforcing explosion front,” wrote the team led by Han Xin, lead researcher of the project with the CAS Institute of Mechanics.
A main element of the ODE’s success lies in a small but crucial design feature — a 5mm bump placed on the engine’s combustor wall. This bump helps trigger self-sustained shock wave explosions, or “detonation diamonds,” ensuring rapid and continuous combustion. These detonation waves enable the engine to produce thrust at hypersonic speeds, completing combustion in microseconds.
The tests showed that the engine’s operational range is between Mach 6 and Mach 16, with Mach 16 translating to an astounding speed of about 12,276 miles per hour (19,756 km per hour). During the trials, the scientists successfully maintained a speed of Mach 9 for approximately 492 feet (150 meters).
However, due to the power limits of the JF-12 wind tunnel, each test run lasted only 50 milliseconds — but this short window still provided valuable data on how the engine’s ignition and combustion processes function at hypersonic speeds.
One of the biggest challenges with hypersonic engines is the ignition delay when using kerosene-based fuels like RP-3. To overcome this, the CAS team pre-compressed the RP-3 fuel to a staggering 6,380 degrees Fahrenheit (3,527 degrees Celsius) before testing. This pre-compression, combined with wing-shaped struts to spread the fuel faster, significantly improved combustion efficiency.
The successful development of the ODE is a significant move toward China’s goal of creating an aircraft capable of flying at Mach 16 by 2030. If achieved, such an aircraft could travel at 20,000 km/h, making it possible to reach any destination in the world within an hour. For example, a trip from Shanghai to Los Angeles could be cut down to just 30 minutes.
Beyond commercial applications, the technology holds enormous potential for military use. The ODE could be used to power a new generation of hypersonic weapons, missiles, and low-cost drones with ultra-long ranges. These advanced hypersonic systems would give China’s military a strategic edge, enabling faster, more precise attacks.
China’s progress in hypersonic technology comes as part of a larger global race for dominance in this field. The United States and Russia are also investing heavily in developing hypersonic engines and weapons.
Earlier in 2023, Chinese scientists claimed to have created the world’s most powerful hypersonic engine, capable of reaching Mach 16 and flying at altitudes of 30 km (18.6 miles).
China has made remarkable strides, the journey is far from over. Researchers must further study the by-products produced by RP-3 combustion and fine-tune the engine’s design to ensure stability during prolonged flight. The goal is to optimize the ODE for real-world use, whether for military or civilian purposes.
