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1 1 (January 13, 2022)

handle is hein.crs/govegec0001 and id is 1 raw text is: s Congressional Research Servtce 1nforming iihe legislative debate since 1914 Updated January 13, 2022 Potential Military Roles for Supersonic Transports A new generation of supersonic (faster than the speed of sound in level flight, also called Mach 1) passenger aircraft is now under development. Using low-boom technology developed through NASA research to minimize sound signatures on the ground, advanced engines, and alternative fuel concepts, these new supersonic transports (SSTs) advertise the ability to fly over populated areas with minimal disruption, cruise more economically, and avoid some of the potential negative environmental effects of carbon-based fuels in high-altitude flight. These new aircraft have attracted interest and some investment from the U.S. military, and have on occasion been proposed for military missions by their developers. The potential roles differ with the size and capabilities of each aircraft. History Aircraft first went supersonic in 1947. Since then, two supersonic transport aircraft (SSTs) served in 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 of their time, those SSTs were hampered by high operational costs (particularly for fuel) and operational restrictions resulting from many countries' prohibitions against sonic booms over land. (A sonic boom results when the shock wave 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 them from a number of potentially 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 shut down. The three main firms are at different stages in the process, and targeting somewhat different markets. Boom Supersonic Denver-based Boom is developing the Overture, a 65- to 88-passenger 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. Projected to enter service in 2029, the Overture is targeted to cost $200 million for the basic aircraft. In January 2022, Boom announced receipt of an Air Force contract worth up to $60 million over three years to investigate using the Overture for surveillance, reconnaissance, special forces deployment, and other roles. Figure I. 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. Exosonc Exosonic, of Los Angeles, is designing a 70-passenger, Mach 1.8 low-boom airliner with a 5,700-mile range. CEO Norris Tie comes from the aerospace engineering world. The company has yet to announce a timeline for its aircraft, although a subscale demonstrator is reportedly slated for 2025. Figure 2. Exosonic Airliner Artist's Rendering Source: Exosonic. Aerion Although having led in development of a new-generation low-boom SST, Aerion, of Melbourne, FL, ceased operations in May 2021, having completed wind tunnel tests of its AS2, intended as an 8- to 10-passenger business jet with a 5,400-mile range at a top speed of Mach 1.4. The three-engine jet was anticipated to enter service in 2027 at a target price of $120 million. The company was founded by entrepreneur Robert Bass and was run by Tom Vice, formerly head of Northrop Grumman Aeronautics. Boeing held a stake in the company, and General Electric had been designing the AS2's engines.

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