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1 1 (August 13, 2021)

handle is hein.crs/goveeic0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Info mZg Ii le I I do ~e rn 1914 Updated August 13, 2021 Potential Military Roles for Supersonic Transports A new generationofsupersonic (faster than the speed of sound in level flight, also called Mach 1) passenger aircraft is now under development. Using low-boon' technology developed through NASAresearchto minimize sound signatures on the ground, advanced engines, and alternative fuel concepts, thesenew supersonic transports (SSTs) advertise the ability to fly over populated areas with minimal disruption, cruise more economically, and avoid some of the potentialnegative environmental effects of carbon-based fuels in high-altitude flight. These new aircraft have attracted interest and some investment fromthe U.S. military, and have onoccasion been proposed formilitary missions by their developers. The potentialroles differ with the size and capabilities of each aircraft. History Aircraft first went supersonic in 1947. Since then, two supersonic transport aircraft (SSTs) servedin commercial airlines. The Soviet Tupolev Tu-144 flew from 1968 to 1999, although it was only in commercial service (with Aeroflot) for three years. The Anglo-French Concorde flew from 1969 to 2003, most of that time in service with British Airways and Air France. Due to the technology oftheir time, those SSTs were hampered by high operational costs (particularly for fuel) and operationalrestrictions resultingfrommany countries' prohibitions against sonic booms overland. (A sonic boom results when the shockwave created by a supersonic aircraft touches the ground, and is heard as a sharp, loud report resembling an explosion.) These restrictions relegated earlier SSTs to trans-oceanic service, excluding themfrom a number ofpotentially profitable routes. Current Principal Developers Two companies are leading the development of new SSTs, with a few others newer to the field, and one previous leader having now shutdown. The three main firms are at different stages in the process, and targeting somewhat different markets. Boom Supersonic Denver-based Boomis developing the Overture, a 65- to 88-pas s enger airliner designed for Mach 2.2 with a range of 5,100 miles. The company expects to fly a one-third-scale demonstrator this year. Projectedto enter service in 2029, the Overture is targeted to cost $200 million for the basic aircraft. Figure 1. Boom Overture Artist's Rendering Source: Boom Supersonic. Boom was founded and is run by Blake Scholl, a former software engineer. It has raised backing primarily from Silicon Valley venture funds and is partnering with Rolls - Royce to develop engine concepts. Exosonic Exosonic, of Los Angeles, is designing a 70-passenger, Mach 1.8 low-boomairliner with a 5,700-mile range. CEO Norris Tie comes fromthe aerospace engineering world. The company has yet to announce a timeline for its aircraft, although a subscale demonstratoris reportedly slatedfor 2025. Figure 2. Exosonic Airliner Artist's Rendering Source: Exosonic. Aerion Althoughhaving led in development of a new-generation low-boomSST, Aerion, of Melbourne, FL, ceased operations in May 2021, having completed wind tunnel tests ofits AS2, intended as an 8-to 10-pas sengerbusiness jet with a 5,400-mile range at a top speed of Mach 1.4. The three-engine jet was anticipated to enter servicein 2027 at a target price of $120 million. The company was founded by entrepreneur Robert Bas s and was run by TomVice, formerly head of Northrop Grumman Aeronautics. Boeing held a stake in the company, and General Electric had been designing the AS2's engines. https://crsreports.congress.gov

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