March 16, 2025 (EIRNS)—A powerful new plasma engine has just been unveiled by Chinese engineers, bringing China’s technology closer to that of the leader in the field, Russia. China’s “high-thrust magnetic plasma thruster,” designed by the Xian Aerospace Propulsion Institute, was able to achieve stable operation at its full power of 100 kilowatts.
“The successful ignition this time marks that the technical level of our institute’s magnetic plasma engine has entered the forefront of the world,” the institute wrote in a social media post on Monday. The team used 3D-printed materials and high-temperature superconducting magnet technology to create the engine. While plasma engines have less thrust than traditional aircraft engines, their specific impulse- or how efficiently the engine generates thrust—is higher, making them more suitable for longer trips.
