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AdvancedFullRangeEngine(AFRE)ProgramEnvisionsHybridPropulsionSystemPavingtheWaytoRoutine,ReusableHypersonicFlight
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
ProposersDaymaybedirectedtoDARPASN1643@darpa.mil.
ImageCaption:DARPAsnewAdvancedFullRangeEngine(AFRE)programseekstodevelopand
demonstrateanewaircraftpropulsionsystemthatcouldoperateatsubsonicthroughhypersonicspeedsand
laytheframeworkforroutine,reusablehypersonicflight.Clickbelowforhighresolutionimage.
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MediawithinquiriesshouldcontactDARPAPublicAffairsatoutreach@darpa.mil
Associatedimagespostedonwww.darpa.milandvideopostedatwww.youtube.com/darpatvmaybereused
accordingtothetermsoftheDARPAUserAgreement,availablehere:http://go.usa.gov/cuTXR..
TAGS
| Air |
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AdvancedFullRangeEngine(AFRE)ProgramEnvisionsHybridPropulsionSystemPavingtheWaytoRoutine,ReusableHypersonicFlight
SIMILARLYTAGGEDCONTENT
AdvancedFullRangeEngine
ProposersDayforICARUSProgram
CODETakesNextStepstowardMoreSophisticated,Resilient,andCollaborativeUnmannedAirSystems
1stSuccessSeeninSystemDesignedtoHelpAircraftAutomaticallyAvoidMidAirCollisions
GremlinsTakesFlighttoProvideAirRecoverableUnmannedAirSystems
IMAGES
AFRE
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