On October 12, 2018, according to California manufacturer Aerojet Rocketdyne, a new hypersonic engine manufactured for NASA and the US Department of Defense's Advanced Technology Division, DARPA, has been successfully tested.
Additive manufacturing is a key technology for hypersonic flight, which the United States Department of Defense calls this the country's "highest technological priority."
The tests performed by Aerojet Rocketdyne involve "new dual-mode ramjet / super-combustion ram engine (DMRJ) engines." In combination with gas turbine engines-forming a turbine-based combined cycle propulsion (TBCC) system-DMRJ engines "may provide "Push the vehicle from a standstill to a hypersonic flight of Mach 5 or higher and return again."
Eileen Drake, CEO and President of Aerojet Rocketdyne, said, "Aerojet Rocketdyne is ready to support this call for action as we have developed supersonic propulsion technology for more than 30 years. Our super-combustion ram engine is a record for the X-51A WaveRider Test flights have powered and we have accelerated development since then. This progress, combined with our advances in additive manufacturing, has enabled the next generation of hypersonic propulsion systems. "
Aerojet Rocketdyne's new dual-mode ramjet / super-combustion ram engine was tested in an 8-foot high-temperature tunnel at NASA's Langley Research Center.
Hypersonic flight is the subject of world superpower attention. Sometimes referred to as a single-use hypersonic, reusable hypersonic aircraft is also under development, including the UK's Reaction Engines' AM-enabled SABRE propulsion system.
Understandably, this means that progress in this area is unlikely to be revealed in detail.
As we all know, additive manufacturing using a series of materials including ceramics is being used in hypersonic projects. For example, use 3D printing technology to create ceramic shields for the US Air Force Research Laboratory.
Aerojet Rocketdyne, in collaboration with DARPA and Boeing, has previously carried out a number of projects, including hypersonic aircraft and 3D printed pogo accumulators, as part of the RS-25 program to support Mars' manned missions.
Aerojet Rocketdyne technician inspects 3D printed pogo accumulator components on RS-25 engine
A report from the US Department of Defense to the General Assembly earlier this year describes the importance of additive manufacturing and its role in the digital manufacturing environment, also known as the digital factory vision. According to the report, "Additive manufacturing (3D printing) and all-digital devices are creating new, more efficient manufacturing capabilities. In some cases, operating costs have been reduced by 50%, cycle time has been reduced, and profit margins have exceeded 70%."