China tests groundbreaking boron ramjet for missiles that fly through the air and water

China tests boron ramjet engine for air and underwater use.

: China has developed a boron ramjet engine capable of operating both in the air and underwater. Achieving almost 90% combustion efficiency underwater, the engine could revolutionize missile technology. Developed by Professor Huang Liya's team at NUDT, the engine offers significant advantages over current rocket engines. These advancements could lead to powerful hybrid weapons difficult to counter.

Chinese researchers have made a breakthrough with a boron ramjet engine that operates in both air and water. The engine, achieving near 90% combustion efficiency in underwater conditions, has been spotlighted by Professor Huang Liya's team at the National University of Defense Technology.

With the boron-fuel mixture capable of propelling vehicles at speeds over mach five, the team overcame underwater ignition issues using metals like magnesium. The engine's innovative design allows stable combustion, leading to a specific impulse significantly outperforming SpaceX's Raptor engine.

These engines present potential applications in warfare, with future weapons capable of stealthily transitioning between air and water. The development team aims to enhance energy extraction by increasing boron content, which could pose challenges for modern military defenses against such hybrid threats.

Boron RamjetHypersonic WeaponsPropulsion Technology