Browse Topic: Military aircraft
Manufacturers of fans/propellers using hydraulically-actuated pitch control claim energy efficiency gains up to 75% over fixed-pitch solutions. Unfortunately, the added cost, weight, reliability and maintenance considerations of hydraulic solutions has limited the introduction of pitch control for small-to-medium fans and propellers leaving a large market unserved by the efficiency gains associated with changing the pitch of a blade when the blade shaft’s speed changes. Pilot Systems International and Cool Mechatronics are developing an electromagnetically controlled pitch (EMCP) fan/propeller that will produce a new pareto optimal in size, weight, power, cost and cooling (SWaP-C2). The technology will substantially improve the efficiency of military ground vehicle cooling fans which is typically the third greatest power draw (~20kW)1 in the entire vehicle and provide critical performance improvements during silent watch. It will be a key enabler for the electrification of aircraft.
Modern military aircraft represent some of the most complex electronic environments ever engineered. These platforms integrate advanced avionics, radar systems, data links, and communication networks that must function seamlessly in hostile, high-frequency environments. In these mission-critical contexts, electromagnetic interference (EMI) poses a silent but serious threat that can degrade signal integrity, cause crosstalk between systems, or even lead to mission failure. The combination of increasing data rates, higher frequencies, and more complex electromagnetic environments demands shielding solutions that can deliver superior performance while contributing to overall system weight reduction. This challenge has driven innovation toward advanced materials that maintain electrical effectiveness while dramatically reducing mass.
The multinational EPIIC programme, involving Airbus Defence and Space, is exploring multiple exciting innovations to strengthen Europe's defense capabilities and technological sovereignty. Airbus, Toulouse, France Imagine Tony Stark soaring through the skies in his iconic Iron Man suit, each command answered with a seamless blend of futuristic technology. Now imagine the cockpit of tomorrow's fighter jet.
Advancements in embedded processing, software, new product introductions, partnerships and recent demonstration flights reflect the growth in development of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) for military aircraft avionics systems occurring in the aerospace industry. This article highlights trends across several industry partnerships, demonstration flights and the enabling elements that are providing opportunities to integrate AI and ML into military avionics systems. In a June press release, Helsing, the Munich, Germany-based native software company and Saab, the Swedish defense manufacturer, announced their completion of a series of test flights where Helsing's “Centaur” AI agent controlled the aerial movements of a Gripen E fighter jet. AI agents are growing in popularity across many different industries for a variety of use cases. In a November 2024 blog about the topic, Microsoft described them as taking “the power of generative AI a step further, because
This SAE Aerospace Information Report (AIR) discusses the sources of copper in aviation jet fuels, the impact of copper on thermal stability of jet fuels and the resultant impact on aircraft turbine engine performance, and potential methods for measurement of copper contamination and reduction of the catalytic activity of copper contamination in jet fuels. This document is an information report and does not provide recommendations or stipulate limits for copper concentrations in jet fuels.
IEEE-1394b, Interface Requirements for Military and Aerospace Vehicle Applications, establishes the requirements for the use of IEEE Std 1394™-2008 as a data bus network in military and aerospace vehicles. The portion of IEEE Std 1394™-2008 standard used by AS5643 is referred to as IEEE-1394 Beta (formerly referred to as IEEE-1394b.) It defines the concept of operations and information flow on the network. As discussed in 1.4, this specification contains extensions/restrictions to “off-the-shelf” IEEE-1394 standards and assumes the reader already has a working knowledge of IEEE-1394. This document is referred to as the “base” specification, containing the generic requirements that specify data bus characteristics, data formats, and node operation. It is important to note that this specification is not designed to be stand-alone; several requirements leave the details to the implementations and delegate the actual implementation to be specified by the network architect/integrator for a
This Handbook is intended to accompany or incorporate AS5643, AS5643/1, AS5657, AS5706, and ARD5708. In addition, full understanding of this Handbook also requires knowledge of IEEE-1394-1995, IEEE-1394a, and IEEE-1394b standards. This Handbook contains detailed explanations and architecture analysis on AS5643, bus timing and scheduling considerations, system redundancy design considerations, suggestions on AS5643-based system configurations, cable selection guidance, and lessons learned on failure modes.
Naval Air Systems Command Patuxent, MD navairpao@us.navy.mil
State-of-the-art fighter aircraft have a large number of support systems that operate in multiple areas. These systems are continuously optimized to achieve maximum efficiency and performance. Countless sensors monitor the environment and generate important data that helps to understand the areas overflown. But even in life-threatening combat situations, target acquisition systems support pilots and provide additional information that can be decisive with the help of augmented reality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI). Military aviation is an arena with great potential for the use of technical aids that have transformed the original fighter aircraft into a technological masterpiece. In addition to the high level of complexity, the upcoming generation change from fifth- to sixth-generation fighter jets poses major challenges for component suppliers and accelerates the pace of technological competition. A military fighter jet is already an extremely demanding environment for
This specification covers the design and installation requirements for Type I and II military aircraft hydraulic systems.
Deliberate RF jamming of drones has become one of the most common battlefield tactics in Ukraine. But what is jamming, how does it work and how can it be countered by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the field? Radio frequency (RF) jamming of drones involves deliberate interference with the radio signals used for communication between drones and their operators.
Hypersonic propulsion would allow for air travel at speeds of Mach 6 to 17, or more than 4,600 to 13,000 miles per hour, and has applications in commercial and space travel.
This SAE Aerospace Standard (AS) defines the requirements for air cycle air conditioning systems used on military air vehicles for cooling, heating, ventilation, and moisture and contamination control. General recommendations for an air conditioning system, which may include an air cycle system as a cooling source, are included in MIL-E-18927E and JSSG-2009. Air cycle air conditioning systems include those components which condition high temperature and high pressure air for delivery to occupied and equipment compartments and to electrical and electronic equipment. This document is applicable to open and closed loop air cycle systems. Definitions are contained in Section 5 of this document.
This ARP provides the definition of terms commonly used in aircraft environmental control system (ECS) design and analysis. Many of the terms may be used as guidelines for establishing standard ECS nomenclature. Some general thermodynamic terms are included that are frequently used in ECS analysis, but this document is not meant to be an inclusive list of such terms.
This Aerospace Information Report (AIR) is limited in scope to the general consideration of environmental control system noise and its effect on occupant comfort. Additional information on the control of environmental control system noise may be found in 2.3 and in the documents referenced throughout the text. This document does not contain sufficient direction and detail to accomplish effective and complete acoustic designs.
This SAE Aerospace Information Report (AIR) contains information on the thermal design requirements of airborne avionic systems used in military airborne applications. Methods are explored which are commonly used to provide thermal control of avionic systems. Both air and liquid cooled systems are discussed.
Defense Innovation Unit Washington D.C. info@DIU.mil
This SAE Aerospace Information Report (AIR) provides the hydraulic and flight-control system designer with the various design options and techniques that are currently available to enhance the survivability of military aircraft. The AIR addresses the following major topics: a Design concepts and architecture (see 3.2, 3.5, and 3.6) b Design implementation (see 3.3, 3.6, and 3.7) c Means to control external leakage (see 3.4) d Component design (see 3.8)
Intelsat McLean, VA 240-308-1881
Naval Air Systems Command Naval Air Station North Island, CA (619) 545-3415
Modern armed forces require advanced signal transmission systems for mission success. Military operations, including those utilizing aircraft and warships, are reliant on receiving and transmitting high-speed data at RF and millimeter wave (mmWave) frequencies. In today's battlefield, high-speed cables must perform to specification under any condition, which in turn necessitates innovative test solutions that can conduct accurate and repeatable measurements. Mission success, aircraft survivability, and troop safety depend on critical defense systems. Signals intelligence (SIGINT), electronic warfare (EW), Command, Control, Communication, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C5ISR), and other systems must reliably provide global situational awareness. System interference can be caused by multiple factors - intentional and unintentional. Advancing EW technologies have led to an increase in nefarious acts by adversaries with the goal of intentionally creating
The U.S. Army fields a multitude of aircraft mission design series (MDS) developed by several different original equipment manufacturers with varying mission requirements and flight profiles. The structural analysis in this work assumes the materials, tooling, skillsets, and capabilities are organically available and proper at the repair location. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama The U.S. Army operates and maintains several aircraft MDS to meet the warfighter's multidomain mission. Aircraft fielded by the U.S. Army originate from multiple equipment manufacturers. These aircraft include rotary-wing configurations such as the AH-64D/E Apache, CH-47F Chinook, and H-60A/L/V/M Blackhawk aircraft which significantly vary in mission parameters and flight profiles. These aircraft contain structures made from a majority aluminum, steel, and titanium alloys which have dominated aircraft designs for much of the history of powered flight. However, the use of
Ice prediction capabilities for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) is of growing interest as UAS designs and applications become more diverse. This report summarizes the current state-of-the-art in modeling aircraft icing within a computational framework as well as a recent U.S. Army DEVCOM AvMC effort to evaluate ice prediction models for current use and future integration into the Computational Research and Engineering Acquisition Tools and Environments (CREATE) Air Vehicle (AV) framework. U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama Historically, smaller Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), such as Class 2 RQ-1B Raven and Class 3 RQ-7Bv2 Shadow, have been restricted to not be approved to fly in icing conditions under the assumption that any ice accretion would cause an unacceptable risk of loss of the aircraft. However, interest exists in better understanding potential icing accretion on UAS to determine if less extreme icing conditions could result in only
A blueprint for modernizing the supply chain for greater connectedness and collaboration. While supply chain problems eased in some markets as the pandemic ran its course, aerospace and defense is among the industries where not only do issues still linger, new supply challenges are surfacing. “The COVID-19 pandemic caused a shock and desynchronization of the aerospace and defense supply chain,” Matteo Peraldo, a partner at the consulting firm Alix Partners, wrote in a June 2023 post to LinkedIn. “This disruption has had a negative impact on inventory levels that persists today.”
Modern armed forces require advanced signal transmission systems for mission success. Military operations, including those utilizing aircraft and warships, are reliant on receiving and transmitting high-speed data at RF and millimeter wave (mmWave) frequencies. In today’s battlefield, high-speed cables must perform to specification under any condition, which in turn necessitates innovative test solutions that can conduct accurate and repeatable measurements.
Northrop Grumman Woodland Hills, CA 224-200-7539
Collins Aerospace Cedar Rapids, IA 319-295-1000
BAE Systems Arlington, VA 571-488-0456
Armed with 5G network technology, artificial intelligence (AI), and edge computing resources, a pilot project under development at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island aims to create an optimized refueling system designed to boost readiness for military aircraft operating there as well as those stopping for fuel en route to other locations.
The rapid advancement of military avionics technologies is revolutionizing the capabilities of next-generation aircraft. One of the common features of modern military avionics systems is the adoption of high-frequency and millimeter-wave (mmWave) communications to achieve higher data rates and enhanced resistance to interference.
This SAE Aerospace Standard (AS) establishes requirements for manufacturing, testing, identification, packaging, and quality of tubes for application in commercial and military aircraft wheel assemblies.
With the backdrop of net-zero emissions as an essential element of national security, this study undertook an analytical approach to evaluate current Department of the Navy (DON) emissions and understand energy needs to support mission readiness while reducing emissions over time. Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California This report is based on a broad study of strategies for the Department of the Navy (DON) to achieve net zero global emissions by 2050 to comply with recent Executive Orders and goals set out for the Department of Defense (DOD) and the DON (Melillo, 2022). In January 2021, Executive Order 14008 called for a government-wide approach for meeting climate related challenges in the U.S. and set goals for agencies. In December 2021, Executive Order 14057 set the specific goal of net zero emissions from overall federal operations, including DOD, by 2050 and a 65 percent emissions reduction by 2030. These are challenging targets for the DOD: 2019 data shows that the DOD
This SAE Aerospace Information Report (AIR) has been compiled to provide information on hydraulic systems fitted to the following categories of military vehicles. Attack Airplanes Fighter Airplanes Bombers Anti-Sub, Fixed Wing Airplanes Transport Airplanes Helicopters Boats
This SAE Aerospace Information Report (AIR) considers the issue of proper design guidance for high voltage electrical systems used in aerospace applications. This document is focused on electrical discharge mechanisms including partial discharge and does not address personnel safety. Key areas of concern when using high voltage in aerospace applications are power conversion devices, electrical machines, connectors and cabling/wiring. The interaction between components and subsystems will be discussed. The AIR is intended for application to high voltage systems used in aerospace vehicles operating to a maximum altitude of 30000 m (approximately 100000 feet), and maximum operating voltages of below 1500 VRMS (AC)/1500 V peak (DC). These upper voltage limits have been incorporated because this report focuses on extending the operating voltage of non-propulsive electrical systems beyond that of existing aerospace systems. It is noted that electrical systems for electrical propulsion may
SpearUAV Tel Aviv, Israel +972-54-228-2822
This SAE Aerospace Information Report (AIR) provides various graphical displays of atmospheric variables related to aircraft icing conditions in natural clouds. It is intended as a review of recent developments on the subject, and for stimulating thought on novel ways to arrange and use the available data. Included in this Report is FAR 25 (JAR 25) Appendix C, the established Aircraft Icing Atmospheric Characterization used for engineering design, development, testing and certification of civilian aircraft to fly in aircraft icing conditions.
This document describes a method to calculate noise level adjustments at locations behind an airplane (described by an angular offset or directivity) at the start of takeoff roll (SOTR). This method is derived from empirical data from jet aircraft (circa 2004), most of which are configured with wing-mounted engines with high by-pass ratios (Lau, et al., 2012). Methods are also described which apply to modern turboprop aricraft. Calculations of other propagation-related adjustments required for aircraft noise prediction models are described in AIR1845A, ARP5534, ARP866A, and AIR5662.
This SAE Aerospace Information Report presents the following factors that affect hydraulic pump life and performance: a The need to supply hydraulic fluid at the correct pressure and quality to the pump inlet port b Considerations for the pump output c Factors to be considered for the pump case drain lines d The mounting of the hydraulic pump e Hydraulic fluid properties, including cleanliness
Recent advancements in eVTOL aircraft have generated significant interest within and beyond the traditional aviation industry. One promising application is for last-mile (and middle-mile) military transport and logistics, which can complement current mission capabilities and enhance operational readiness. With the dynamic and varying global challenges facing military operations, eVTOL aircraft can offer timely, on-demand, and potentially cost-effective aerial mobility components to the overall solution. The Use of eVTOL Aircraft for Military Applications: Last-mile Transport and Logistics explores the challenges that need to be addressed before identified capabilities and benefits can be realized at scale: Mission-specific eVTOL vehicle development Detect-and-avoid (DAA)capabilities in complex and challenging operating environments Autonomous and AI-enhanced mission capabilities Charging system compatibility and availability for battery-electric vehicles Simplified vehicle operations
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