Plasma Science Holds the Key to the Future of Hypersonic Flight and Energy Efficiency

Indiana, US, 20th March 2025, ZEX PR WIRE, Aerospace scientist and engineer Sergey Macheret is calling on government agencies, private investors, and research institutions to accelerate investment in plasma technology to revolutionize hypersonic flight, propulsion systems, and energy efficiency. With decades of experience in plasma physics and aerospace engineering, Macheret believes the industry is at a pivotal moment.

“Plasma science can change the way we approach high-speed flight, propulsion, and aerodynamics, but the funding and research are not moving fast enough,” said Macheret, Co-Founder and CEO of US Plasma Engineering LLC. “We need dedicated resources to develop real-world applications before other nations take the lead.”

Plasma’s Role in Hypersonic and Aerospace Innovation

Hypersonic technology—defined as flight technology for speeds of Mach 5 or greater—is transforming military, space, and commercial aviation. However, heat buildup, shockwave formation, and aerodynamic drag remain critical challenges. Plasma-based solutions offer a way forward:

• Plasma aerodynamics: Electric discharges can manipulate airflow, reducing drag, enhancing lift, and improving both stability and maneuverability for hypersonic vehicles.
• Magnetohydrodynamics (MHD): Magnetic fields interacting with ionized air could enable more efficient airbreathing propulsion.
• Plasma-assisted combustion: Plasma devices can dramatically shorten the ignition delay time, facilitate fuel-air mixing, increase flame propagation speed, and also enable stable operation in lean mixtures.

“We already have the science to control airflow and enhance propulsion through plasma fields, but we lack the funding and test facilities to make these systems commercially viable,” Macheret explained.

The Global Race in Plasma and Hypersonic Development

China and Russia have heavily invested in hypersonic vehicle technology, with China testing multiple platforms capable of sustained flight at Mach 5+ speeds. A 2023 RAND Corporation report highlighted that China conducts nearly twice as many hypersonic flight tests annually as the U.S. In the last several years, R&D funding for hypersonics has increased dramatically in the US. “However, plasma technologies for hypersonics are still underfunded, especially given the game-changing potential of these technologies.”

Funding and Collaboration Needed

Macheret is urging NASA, the Department of Defense, and private aerospace firms to allocate more funding toward plasma-based aerospace technologies. He is also advocating for a national plasma research initiative, bringing together universities, laboratories, and industry partners.

“If we want to remain leaders in aerospace technology, we must commit to developing plasma-based solutions now.”