RTX’s Raytheon receives contract from DARPA

Raytheon, an RTX business, has received a contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to develop Gambit, an air-breathing propulsion demonstration program that uses a novel rotating detonation engine. This type of engine is more compact, provides a higher efficiency propulsion source than conventional missile propulsion and offers the potential for lower costs. Under the contract, RTX will rely heavily on iterative development of performance models which will be anchored by real-world data from incremental system tests. This proven method accelerates learning to provide more certain flight test outcomes, saving both time and cost. Future optional phases of the Gambit program will shift to building hardware to conduct a flight weight free-jet test. With this contract, RTX becomes the first company to apply rotating detonation engine technology into an actual test system.