GE Aviation is working on a new engine for the military market that includes technology advances introduced by the GE9X and "something a little more radical", says GE Aviation chief executive David Joyce.
The science and technology effort is revealed as the US military is poised to launch at least three programmes – a T-X trainer, an unmanned carrier-launched surveillance and strike aircraft and possibly the Long Range Strike-Bomber – that require an engine in the 10,000lb-thrust to 15,000lb-thrust class.
"We've got a really nice suite of technologies to scale," Joyce says. "We can scale them from the turboprops all the way up to the GE9X side."
Joyce also noted that GE can leverage technology being developed for the Passport engine programme, a 16,000lb-thrust powerplant selected for the Bombardier Global 7000/8000 business jets.
Meanwhile, GE also is optimistic about a new military-oriented engine technology that can adapt the bypass ratio in-flight by opening a third-stream of airflow. The adaptive engine technology development (AETD) programme has largely been sold on its potential for conserving fuel and increasing the range of military aircraft, but Joyce says the technology offers other benefits.
"The third-stream provides an incredible heat-sink capability," he says, while noting that steadily rising heat loads generated by electronic warfare equipment is "exploding – no pun intended".
"We think that there was a need in the military because the missions are moving so fast to [justify] taking a look at the third stream," he adds.
Source: Flight Daily News
