Defence propulsion startup D-Propulse on Tuesday announced the successful demonstration of India's first indigenously developed 5 kN air-breathing Rotating Detonation Engine (RDE) integrated with an aerospike nozzle, marking a milestone in the country's advanced propulsion capabilities.
The hot-fire demonstration, conducted at a DRDO test facility, achieved stable 5 kN thrust, validating the technology at Technology Readiness Level (TRL)-5, which indicates validation in a relevant operational environment.
Incubated at IIT Madras, the company said the demonstration marks the transition from laboratory-scale validation to an integrated prototype. It is targeting a flight-ready engine by December 2027.
Unlike conventional jet engines, Rotating Detonation Engines use pressure-gain combustion, improving thermodynamic efficiency while eliminating moving parts inside the combustor, resulting in a simpler engine architecture.
According to D-Propulse, the technology offers 15–25% higher thermodynamic efficiency than conventional air-breathing propulsion systems and can be manufactured through precision machining rather than complex turbine assemblies, reducing production costs and lead times.
