Supersonic passenger aircraft Boom Overture for the US Air Force
Flying laboratory Boom XB-1
In the distant future, the US Air Force plans to take into operation a promising supersonic special-purpose aircraft. In accordance with the contracts, it will be developed by Boom Supersonic and Northrop Grumman. It is assumed that this will be a modification of the passenger liner Boom Overture, announced in the recent past.
Plans and contracts
Over the past few years, the American company Boom Supersonic has been developing advanced supersonic aircraft for civilian use. She has already presented several projects of various kinds and even managed to attract potential customers. Thus, it is reported that there are preliminary agreements for several dozen Overture passenger aircraft.
In 2019-20 the company managed to interest the US Air Force and received two contracts under the line of "innovation in small business." In accordance with these documents, the company received financial assistance from the Pentagon. It is intended for research and development work, the results of which may be of interest to the Air Force.
In October 2020, Boom Supersonir held an online presentation of its first aircraft called the XB-1. This is a flying laboratory created to develop key solutions and technologies that will then be used in the development of full-fledged liners. Flight tests of the XB-1 were planned for the coming years.
Civil aircraft Overture
In January 2022, the development company received new assistance from the Air Force. As part of the AFWERX program, she was awarded a three-year contract worth $60 million. This money will accelerate ongoing research and move faster to the next stage of development. Accordingly, the Pentagon will be able to get the desired special-purpose aircraft faster.
Within the framework of cooperation
Recently, new measures have been taken to speed up the work and get the desired result. Boom Supersonic was able to enlist the support of Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems. The cooperation agreement was signed on July 19 as part of the Farnborough International Air Show.
The details of the cooperation started have not yet been specified. At the same time, company representatives note that it will combine the promising supersonic platform from Boom Supersonic and Northrop Grumman's extensive defense experience.
Also disclosed are the possible areas of application of a promising aircraft. It is proposed to be used for the transportation of personnel and cargo, for command and control of forces and troops, or for the purposes of observation and reconnaissance. In all cases, supersonic flight speed will be of great importance - it will reduce the response time and optimize the duration of the mission.
Plane of the future
For civilian and military customers, Boom Supersonic is developing the Overture liner. The development of this aircraft was first reported several years ago, and new information about it has been repeatedly disclosed in the future. In addition, images of the liner in civilian and special versions were published.
Special modification for the Air Force
The Overture project provides for the construction of a supersonic aircraft with a normal aerodynamic configuration. An elongated fuselage with a pointed nose cone is used. It is characterized by increased height, which made it possible to place the cockpit above the passenger compartment. At the same time, the cabin does not have a pronounced canopy: the front hemisphere will be monitored using video cameras. The central part of the fuselage accommodates the passenger compartment and is narrower, taking into account the so-called. area rules. In the tail section of the fuselage, the plumage of a traditional design is placed.
The aircraft is proposed to be equipped with a swept wing. There are two kinks on the leading edge to optimize aerodynamics. The trailing edge also consists of two parts at an angle to each other. Wing mechanization is standard; it includes ailerons and flaps.
During the development, various configurations of the propulsion system and several options for its placement were considered. In particular, early images featured a variant with two engines in nacelles under the wing and one in the tail of the fuselage with side air intakes. The current version of the project provides for the presence of four engines under the wing. Gondolas are located in the central part of each half-wing.
Overture is considered primarily as a passenger aircraft. Depending on the configuration of the cabin, it will be able to carry from 65 to 80 people. The aircraft is capable of taking cargo on board, however, there are serious restrictions associated with the available cabin volumes and carrying capacity.
The finished aircraft will be approx. 61 m. Weight characteristics are not reported. With the help of engines with design parameters, he will be able to develop a cruising speed of 1,7 M at an altitude of 18,2 km. The maximum range will exceed 7860 km.
According to current plans, while Boom Supersonic will be engaged in the development of the project. In 2024, the company is going to start building the first prototype, probably in a commercial configuration. Its first flight is scheduled for 2025. It will take a few more years to test and fine-tune the design, and by the beginning of the next decade, customers will be able to receive their first liners.
Military perspectives
It can be assumed that work on the civilian and military versions of Overture will now go in parallel. In this case, the Pentagon will be able to replenish the fleet of its special aircraft at the end of the decade - simultaneously with civilian customers. Then an indefinite time will be needed for the construction of the required series, development and organization of full-fledged operation.
The possible timing of the appearance of new aircraft in the US Air Force is clear, but their purpose remains in question. According to the development companies, Overture can solve various tasks, with the exception of direct combat. It is not known which of the proposed options the Pentagon will choose.
It is likely that the aircraft will be used in its original passenger configuration. He will be able to transport command staff or special forces, and high speed will reduce the time spent on flights and will allow you to get other benefits. Now only subsonic airliners are used for this purpose, and flying to remote bases takes a lot of time.
It was recently mentioned that Overture, in its final form, can become an air command post or reconnaissance. Indeed, there is a fundamental possibility of equipping the aircraft with operator jobs and special equipment. These can be means of optical or electronic intelligence, various locators and communication systems. At the same time, high flight characteristics will positively affect the efficiency in solving the main tasks.
Obviously, the military version of Overture will only solve auxiliary tasks. Turning a liner into a carrier aviation means of destruction is impossible or is associated with an extremely complex and inappropriate restructuring of the structure. In addition, the US Air Force already has all the necessary attack aircraft, and is also developing new ones.
Increased interest
In recent years, American aircraft manufacturers have again taken up the subject of supersonic passenger aircraft. It is assumed that the current level of development of science and technology makes it possible to create liners with improved characteristics that will be of interest to commercial carriers. The latter are already eyeing the proposed projects and entering into preliminary agreements.
In addition, the Pentagon became interested in promising topics. He supports research and development in this area and is likely to make plans for the future. It is not yet clear exactly how the US Air Force plans to use supersonic airliners. However, it is obvious that they are not going to lose sight of a promising direction, and are also ready to contribute to its development - and get the desired result.
- Ryabov Kirill
- Supersonic boom
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