Pulse detonation turbine engine

A pulse detonation turbine engine (PDTE) (50) includes at least one controllable multi-tube pulse detonation combustor (PDC) (54) configured to initiate firing of one or more pulse detonation tubes in response to operation of a plurality of controllable peripheral PDC components (57) to regulate PDTE output characteristics. A control system including a programmable controller (52) directed by algorithmic software operates to generate control inputs for the plurality of controllable peripheral PDC components (57) in response to PDTE input conditions, such that one or more PD tube controllable inputs can be different for at least one PD tube relative to another PD tube within the multi-tube PDC (54), and further such that detonation timing can be different for at least one PD tube relative to another PD tube within the multi-tube PDC (54).