Recent advancements in plasma-based jet engines are pushing the boundaries of aviation, hinting at a future where aircraft could theoretically fly indefinitely without traditional fuel.
"USA" tests, current headlines point to leading prototypes from China, with U.S. labs actively exploring similar microwave plasma and air-breathing electric propulsion concepts.
These innovations use electricity to ionize atmospheric air into plasma, generating thrust with zero fossil fuel emissions.
Here's a breakdown of the latest developments as of November 2025.
China's "Tang Jet":
A Shoebox-Sized Leap Toward Endless Skies
In a milestone announced in May 2025, researchers at Wuhan University unveiled the "Tang Jet," a prototype plasma engine that operates solely on electricity and ambient air—no fuel, no batteries required for basic operation.
The device compresses air and ionizes it using low-power microwaves (2.45 GHz, akin to a household oven), creating a high-temperature plasma jet that produces thrust comparable to a small conventional engine.
Lab tests showed it sustaining steady plasma flow and lifting a 1-kg steel ball 24 mm vertically, demonstrating pressures on par with commercial jets when scaled.
Key specs from tests:
- Power input: As low as 400 watts for initial thrust.
- Emissions: Zero CO₂ or particulates, as it burns nothing.
- Potential range: Medium-haul flights if paired with grid or renewable power sources, theoretically limited only by electricity supply rather than fuel weight.
Professor Jau Tang emphasized its role in combating global warming, noting it could slash aviation's 2.5% share of greenhouse gases by decoupling flight from oil.
However, scaling remains a hurdle: current prototypes are tiny (shoebox-sized), and energy density issues mean heavy batteries would still limit endurance to under an hour for larger aircraft without breakthroughs in power storage.
U.S. Echoes: Labs Racing to Catch Up
While China's Tang Jet dominates headlines, U.S. researchers aren't far behind.
Labs at institutions like NASA and private firms (e.g., in collaboration with Busek) have been testing microwave plasma engines and magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) propulsion since the early 2020s.
A 2020 prototype from Wuhan (ironically, with U.S. parallels) already proved air-plasma thrust viable, and recent 2025 reports indicate American experiments are adapting these for atmospheric flight.
For instance:
- FGC Plasma Solutions (an Argonne National Lab spinout) is developing plasma-assisted combustion injectors for existing jet engines, promising 1-5% fuel savings per flight by optimizing idling—translating to $1B+ annual industry savings and 20 million tons of CO₂ reduction.
- NASA's pulsed plasma thrusters (PPTs), tested on satellites like Earth Observing-1 in 2000, are being refined for air-breathing variants. These use electromagnetic fields to accelerate plasma without grids, achieving high efficiency (up to 12,000 seconds specific impulse—far beyond chemical rockets' 450 seconds).
U.S. efforts focus on hybrid integration: retrofitting plasma tech into turbofans for quieter, lighter engines that reduce maintenance and fuel logistics risks. Early tests show durability up to 8,000 hours, with payback in 2-3 years.
Challenges and the Road to "Skies That Never Sleep"
The dream of endless flight hinges on solving energy puzzles.
Jet fuel packs 43 times more energy per kg than batteries, so plasma jets need ultra-efficient power (e.g., advanced nuclear or solar grids) for true "no limits" endurance.
Weather resilience—handling high altitudes or storms—is another test, as plasma behaves differently in thin or moist air.
Regulations for this "new physics" propulsion will lag, but global momentum (U.S., Europe, Japan) suggests prototypes could hit test flights by 2030.
This tech isn't just cleaner—it's a paradigm shift, turning the sky into the fuel source. As one expert put it, "Flight without flame challenges everything we know about propulsion."
Watch for U.S. announcements soon; the race is heating up.