Fischer-Tropsch Fuels: Why Are They of Interest to the United States Military?

Synthetic fuels can be manufactured through a process known as Fischer-Tropsch (FT) synthesis. The FT process converts synthetic gas, composed of primarily carbon monoxide and hydrogen, derived from various feedstocks (e.g. natural gas, coal, biomass or petroleum coke) into synthetic hydrocarbons. These hydrocarbons can then be further processed into various FT hydrocarbon products, including diesel fuels or jet fuels. The military has several reasons for their interest in FT fuels. This paper explores these reasons, including the emerging global FT industry, the technologies being investigated for power and propulsion systems, the environmental benefits, and the potential for enhanced strategic mobility and energy security.