Electric planes may be the (near) future of aviation. Or maybe aircraft with nuclear engines.

It's generally foolish to make firm predictions about the future, but it is becoming clear that aviation—commercial and military—may be in for a drastic overhaul in the coming decades, as electric engines and new designs demonstrate their cost efficiency in fuel expenditures and lower environmental degradation. The discussion below chiefly covers the West, but we know that Russia, easily one of the most scientifically original and creative nations in modern history, and soon China, may have their own solutions to these challenges, including the development of nuclear engines for commercial and military jets, a concept already applied by Russia to a growing number of their strategic missiles.