SNC hypersonic engine passes next stage of OpFires programme
Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) has progressed to the next phase of the Defence Advanced Research Project Agency’s (DARPA) Operational Fires (OpFires) programme with its Vortex hypersonic propulsion system.
The company is developing Vortex to use solid fuel with a liquid oxidiser that can be stored in the system both on Earth and in space.
This is intended to produce a system that is capable of advanced, deep throttling, restartable propulsion.
Tom Crabb, VP of Propulsion & Environmental Systems at SNC, said: ‘This programme opens up a new market for SNC for preplanned or on-demand propulsion control capabilities that are applicable to both military and beyond-Earth orbit propulsion capabilities.’
Alongside its work on Vortex, the SNC is expanding the propulsion system for its Dream Chaser spaceplane and the company is co-investing with the USAF for development of new engines to be used by the US military.
More from US Military Aviation Special Report
-
![US Army ahead of ITEP schedule despite CDR delay]()
US Army ahead of ITEP schedule despite CDR delay
The Critical Design Review (CDR) phase of the US Army's Improved Turbine Engine Programme (ITEP) has been delayed by two weeks because of COVID-19 issues. …
-
![SOF seeks integration help to counter unmanned aircraft]()
SOF seeks integration help to counter unmanned aircraft
US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) is seeking industry white papers for its C-UAS Systems Integration Partner (CUxS SIP) requirement. In an RfI published on 17 April, USSOCOM …
-
![Fire Scout set to gain Link 16]()
Fire Scout set to gain Link 16
Northrop Grumman is set to receive new contracts from the US Navy over the next two years to integrate Link 16 on the MQ-8C Fire …
-
![US Army counts down to AH-64E V6 operations]()
US Army counts down to AH-64E V6 operations
The US Army will aim to have the new AH-64E Apache Guardian V6 configuration in service during Q1 2022 following flight training with the first …
-
![U-2 Dragon Lady shows plenty of life]()
U-2 Dragon Lady shows plenty of life
A popular phrase in the US is ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’. In aviation, one could think of the DC-3 and the 747, …
-
![COVID-19 poses practical and strategic questions for US air power]()
COVID-19 poses practical and strategic questions for US air power
The COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic has changed just about everything, including US air power. The effects are likely to be felt for years, including a downturn …
