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Advanced Full Range Engine (AFRE) Program Envisions Hybrid Propulsion System Paving The Way To Routine, Reusable Hypersonic Flight

DARPA has launched the Advanced Full Range Engine (AFRE) program to develop a hybrid propulsion system for hypersonic flight. The system would combine turbine and dual-mode ramjet technologies to allow aircraft to operate from takeoff to Mach 5+. This would remove constraints of current systems that rely on disposable rockets. AFRE aims to culminate in ground testing of a full-scale demonstration system, with the goal of enabling routine, reusable hypersonic flight.

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197 views

Advanced Full Range Engine (AFRE) Program Envisions Hybrid Propulsion System Paving The Way To Routine, Reusable Hypersonic Flight

DARPA has launched the Advanced Full Range Engine (AFRE) program to develop a hybrid propulsion system for hypersonic flight. The system would combine turbine and dual-mode ramjet technologies to allow aircraft to operate from takeoff to Mach 5+. This would remove constraints of current systems that rely on disposable rockets. AFRE aims to culminate in ground testing of a full-scale demonstration system, with the goal of enabling routine, reusable hypersonic flight.

Uploaded by

Stephen Trimble
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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6/27/2016

AdvancedFullRangeEngine(AFRE)ProgramEnvisionsHybridPropulsionSystemPavingtheWaytoRoutine,ReusableHypersonicFlight

DefenseAdvancedResearchProjectsAgency NewsAndEvents AdvancedFullRangeEngine(AFRE)ProgramEnvisions


HybridPropulsionSystemPavingtheWaytoRoutine,ReusableHypersonicFlight

Advanced Full Range Engine (AFRE) Program Envisions Hybrid Propulsion


System Paving the Way to Routine, Reusable Hypersonic Flight
Reliable, affordable system would combine turbine and hypersonic engine technologies for seamless
transition from low-speed takeoff to Mach 5+ and back
[email protected]
6/24/2016

InthedecadeslongquesttodevelopreusableaircraftthatcanreachhypersonicspeedsMach5
(approximately3,300milesperhour/5,300kilometersperhour)andaboveengineershavegrappledwithtwo
intertwined,seeminglyintractablechallenges:Thetopspeedoftraditionaljetturbineenginesmaxesoutat
roughlyMach2.5,whilehypersonicenginessuchasscramjetscannotprovideeffectivethrustatspeedsmuch
belowMach3.5.Thisgapincapabilitymeansthatanyairbreathinghypersonicvehiclesdevelopedtoday
wouldusedisposablerocketsforonetimeboostsuptooperatingspeed,limitingthevehiclesusefulness.
Tohelpremovetheseconstraintsandlaytheframeworkforroutinehypersonicflightwithreusablevehicles,
DARPAhaslauncheditsAdvancedFullRangeEngine(AFRE)program.AFREseekstodevelopand
demonstrateanewaircraftpropulsionsystemthatcouldoperateoverthefullrangeofspeedsrequiredfrom
lowspeedtakeoffthroughhypersonicflight.
Insteadofdesigninganentirelynewkindofengine,wereenvisioninganinventivehybridsystemthatwould
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AdvancedFullRangeEngine(AFRE)ProgramEnvisionsHybridPropulsionSystemPavingtheWaytoRoutine,ReusableHypersonicFlight

combineandimproveuponthebestofofftheshelfturbineandramjet/scramjettechnologies,said
ChristopherClay,DARPAprogrammanager.Thiswontbethefirsttimethatambitiousengineerswillattempt
tocombineturbineandramjettechnologies.Butwithrecentadvancesinmanufacturingmethods,modeling,
andotherdisciplines,webelievethispotentiallygroundbreakingachievementmayfinallybewithinreach.
AFREaimstoexploreaturbinebasedcombinedcycle(TBCC)engineconcept,whichwoulduseaturbine
engineforlowspeedoperationsandadualmoderamjetwhichwouldworkefficientlywhethertheairflowing
throughitissubsonic(asinaramjet)orsupersonic(asinascramjet)forhighspeedoperations.Thetwo
componentsofthehybridenginewouldshareacommonforwardfacingairintakeandrearfacingexhaust
nozzletoreleasethrust.
AFREaimstodevelopcriticaltechnologiesandculminateingroundbasedtestingofafullscale,integrated
technologydemonstrationsystem.Ifthattestingissuccessful,furtherdevelopmentoftheAFREtechnology
wouldrequireflighttestinginapotentialfollowondemonstrationprogram.
Systemsthatoperateathypersonicspeedsofferthepotentialformilitaryoperationsfromlongerrangeswith
shorterresponsetimesandenhancedeffectivenesscomparedtocurrentmilitarysystems.Suchsystems
couldprovidesignificantpayoffforfutureU.S.operations,particularlyasadversariescapabilitiesadvance.
TofamiliarizepotentialparticipantswiththetechnicalobjectivesofAFRE,DARPAhasscheduledaProposers
DayinadvanceofaplannedBroadAgencyAnnouncement(BAA).TheProposersDaywillbeheldon
WednesdayandThursday,July13and14,2016attheDARPAConferenceCenterinArlington,Va.Theevent
willrunfrom1:00PMto5:00PMEasternonJuly13andfrom9:00AMto12:00PMEasternonJuly14.
TheSpecialNoticeannouncingtheeventisavailableathttp://go.usa.gov/chjzj.Advanceregistrationis
requiredthroughtheregistrationwebsite:http://ow.ly/Qm7a3016sgG.RegistrationclosesWednesday,July6,
2016at2:00PMEasternorwhencapacityisreached,whichevercomesfirst.Thereisnofeeforregistration.
Duetospacelimitationsoftheconferencefacility,attendanceislimitedtothefirst150registrantsandnomore
thanfourrepresentativesperorganization(parentcompany).QuestionsabouttheAFRESpecialNoticeand
[email protected].
ImageCaption:DARPAsnewAdvancedFullRangeEngine(AFRE)programseekstodevelopand
demonstrateanewaircraftpropulsionsystemthatcouldoperateatsubsonicthroughhypersonicspeedsand
laytheframeworkforroutine,reusablehypersonicflight.Clickbelowforhighresolutionimage.
###
MediawithinquiriesshouldcontactDARPAPublicAffairsatoutreach@darpa.mil
Associatedimagespostedonwww.darpa.milandvideopostedatwww.youtube.com/darpatvmaybereused
accordingtothetermsoftheDARPAUserAgreement,availablehere:http://go.usa.gov/cuTXR..

TAGS
| Air |

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SIMILARLYTAGGEDCONTENT
AdvancedFullRangeEngine
ProposersDayforICARUSProgram
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1stSuccessSeeninSystemDesignedtoHelpAircraftAutomaticallyAvoidMidAirCollisions
GremlinsTakesFlighttoProvideAirRecoverableUnmannedAirSystems

IMAGES

AFRE

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