DARPA’s Hypersonic Vulcan Engine Meld

Logical progression(click to view full) GE, United Technologies win Phase II contracts. (July 6/10) It might not be a Vulcan mind-meld, but it’s pretty close. The Department of Defense’s technology brain trust, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), has given 4 contractors the go-ahead to develop the advanced Vulcan combination engine system for hypersonic flight. The Vulcan engine will integrate a traditional jet turbine engine that performs well at low speeds, with a constant volume combustion (CVC) engine that performs well at higher speeds. The combination will help the vehicles go from standing starts to Mach 4 or so, where hypersonic engines can take over. DARPA’s ultimate goal is to design, build, and fly Mach 6+ re-usable, air-breathing, turbine-based hypersonic vehicles. What current engines will the Vulcan program modify? What are the program’s goals? What is its structure? DID has answers… * The Logic Behind Vulcan * Contracts & Key Events [NEW] * Additional Readings [updated] The Logic Behind Vulcan Brayton Cycle engines(click to view full) Contractors will use an in-production turbine engine that is capable of operating at or above Mach 2, such as United Technologies’ subsidiary Pratt & Whitney’s F100-229 (in F-16/F-15 fighters) and F119 (F-22A) engines, […]