The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is seeking industry ideas on a proposed programme to demonstrate technology for a quiet, long-range, supersonic reconnaissance aircraft.
DARPA anticipates the Quiet Supersonic Platform (QSP) programme would result in the flight testing of a demonstrator vehicle that could also be the precursor of a supersonic business jet (SSBJ).
A request for information (RFI) issued in late March is the result of Congressional action last year to add $15 million to DARPA's fiscal year 2000 budget, to begin a supersonic aircraft noise mitigation programme. Gulfstream and Lock- heed Martin's Skunk Works hope to use the cash to support flight testing of a demonstrator by 2005. This would be the precursor of an SSBJ that would be able to fly supersonically over land.
The RFI says the goal of the proposed QSP "is to demonstrate a vehicle with substantially increased range and performance, low overall operational cost and capability for supersonic flight over land". High-speed, long-range, deep-penetration reconnaissance is the primary application, says DARPA.
Technologies being considered include reduction of sonic boom by airframe shaping, plasmas and adaptive flow control; supersonic laminar flow control to reduce weight and increase range; high-bypass supersonic cruise engines to reduce noise and increase efficiency; and advanced materials such as foamed metallic structures.
Source: Flight International
