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Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine (RDRE)
Courtesy of Venus Aerospace · Press kit, editorial use (opens venusaero.com)

Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine (RDRE)

by Venus AerospaceUS

Rotating detonation rocket engine using a supersonic detonation wave instead of combustion, yielding 15% efficiency gain. 3D-printed from standard materials and designed for reuse.

ProtoStage 2 of 5

Solid-fuel RDRE for defense; dual-mode RDRE-ramjet for hypersonic airliners. First flight completed May 2025.

Updated 10 Sep 2026Checked 10 Oct0 updates this week

Milestones

Next · Defense system development (with Lockheed)
  1. Company founded2020Complete.
  2. Series A funding closed2022Complete.
  3. First US flight test of RDRE14 May 2025Complete.
  4. Series B funding closed8 Jul 2026Complete.
  5. Lockheed Martin partnership announcedJul 2026Complete.
  6. Test stand operational at Houston Spaceport10 Sep 2026Complete.
  7. Defense system development (with Lockheed)Target 2028Not yet reached.
  8. Commercial ramjet variant maturationTarget 2029Not yet reached.

Most important updates

Upcoming

  1. 2028Defense system development (with Lockheed) (next)
  2. 2029Commercial ramjet variant maturation
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