Aerospace

UK industry reveals advanced technologies for next-generation flying combat air demonstrator

Engineers from the UK’s top combat air industry partners have revealed more details about the work being done to create the UK’s first flying combat air demonstration of its generation.

To develop the technology required to deliver the UK’s next-generation supersonic stealth combat aircraft, Tempest, experts from BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, Leonardo UK, MBDA, and the Ministry of Defence (MOD) are working with a variety of British small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

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The UK government first announced the Flying Technology Demonstrator in July 2022. It is expected to take flight within the next four years and is being created employing a variety of cutting-edge digital techniques and transformative processes, as well as the know-how of the UK’s top-tier defence sector.

Test pilots from BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, and the Royal Air Force (RAF) have flown the demonstration aircraft for more than 150 hours in a new, custom simulator at BAE Systems’ brand-new facility in Warton, Lancashire, giving vital data to assist flight testing.

UK industry to play key role in new Global Combat Air Programme(Opens in a new browser tab)

Engineers have also been testing aerodynamic engines, using cutting-edge manufacturing techniques to create an engine duct that is specially designed to reduce air speed at the engine face from supersonic to subsonic. Because there are fewer moving parts in the intake than in a conventional fighter jet design, the aircraft is more stealthy. The Concorde Olympus engine’s test was done in the 1960s at the same facility now used by Rolls-Royce, in Filton, Bristol.

A group of engineers from BAE Systems have overseen ejection seat demonstrations using a rocket-propelled sledge moving at more than 500 mph while collaborating with UK crew escape expert Martin Baker. Junior team members and seasoned engineers collaborated to transfer important skills that can be applied moving ahead.

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The Global Combat Air Programme, which will be supplied by the UK, Italy, and Japan, will produce Tempest, an aircraft, and this variety of unique technologies will demonstrate and test important parts of the next-generation combat air design as well as skills, tools, processes, and procedures.

Aerospace

Boeing Transfers Rocket Stage to NASA, Paving Way for Human Moon Mission

Image:Boeing

Boeing has achieved a significant milestone by providing NASA with the second core stage of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket.

This crucial component, crafted at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility (MAF), is set to propel the Artemis II crew into lunar orbit, marking humanity’s return to deep space after a 50-year hiatus.

The monumental Boeing-built rocket stage, the largest element of the Artemis II mission, will embark on a journey aboard the Pegasus barge, traveling 900 miles to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.

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Upon arrival, it will be meticulously integrated with other essential Artemis II components, including the upper stage, solid rocket boosters, and NASA’s Orion spacecraft within the iconic Vehicle Assembly Building. This intricate integration process is a vital step toward the eagerly anticipated Artemis II launch, slated for 2025.

“Boeing-built products helped land humankind on the moon in 1969, and we’re proud to continue that legacy through the Artemis generation,” remarked Dave Dutcher, vice president and program manager for Boeing’s SLS program. “Together, with NASA and our industry partners and suppliers, we are building the world’s most capable rocket and paving the way to deep space through America’s rocket factory in New Orleans.”

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The delivery of Core Stage 2 marks a significant achievement in the evolution of the SLS rocket. Towering over 200 feet and powered by four RS-25 engines, this core stage, coupled with two solid-fueled booster rockets, will generate a staggering 8.8 million pounds of thrust. This immense power is crucial to launching Artemis II and future missions into the vast expanse of space.

The SLS rocket stands unparalleled in its capability to transport both crew and substantial cargo to the moon and beyond in a single launch. Its extraordinary capacity will facilitate the delivery of human-rated spacecraft, habitats, and scientific missions to destinations including the moon and Mars, ushering in a new era of space exploration.