Solid-Fuel Rotating Detonation Ramjet (SF-RDR) for High-Speed Propulsion

The Department of Navy seeks proposals for the DON26BZ01-NV036 project to develop a throttleable solid-fuel Rotating Detonation Ramjet Engine (SFRDE) system. This initiative aims to integrate a controllable gas generator to precisely regulate fuel supply, enabling stable and efficient Rotating Detonation Engine (RDE) operation. The project addresses the complexities of using solid fuels in RDEs, which traditionally rely on gaseous or liquid fuels, and focuses on two key areas: developing a compact, lightweight, and throttleable gas generator, and optimizing the RDE combustion chamber for stable detonation wave propagation and efficient fuel-oxidizer mixing. Phase I involves designing and demonstrating a subscale throttleable gas generator subsystem that provides a detonable combustible mixture at ramjet-relevant temperatures. Phase II will focus on developing and fabricating a tactical-scale prototype for ground-testing under ramjet conditions, including performance characterization and initial cost estimates for production. Phase III will further improve the SFRDE system through ground tests under Navy-relevant conditions, potentially leading to flight-representative hardware for future flight demonstrations. The technology has dual-use applications in power generation, thermal management, and aerospace.