cfr-design-points
ASSESSMENT dossier

CFR Reactor Design Points (McGuire 2016)

ASSESSMENT General ASSESSMENT // CFR DESIGN Also: CFR design points, CFR TX, CFR nominal conservative

01 Executive_Summary

ASSESSMENT: The CFR '2,000-ton TX' was a DESIGN CONCEPT, not a built prototype. McGuire's 2016 UCI presentation showed TWO design points: NOMINAL: 200 MW Thermal, 5.2m diameter x 15.2m long, 230 metric tons, 1.4T, 9 MA mirror current. CONSERVATIVE: 200 MW Thermal, 10.5m diameter x 30.5m long, 1,900 metric tons, 0.84T, 20 MA mirror current. Lockheed believed weight could be reduced to 200 tons. The actual experimental devices were much smaller: T4 (0.33 m² plasma, 2 m³ chamber), T4B (2m x 1m, ~20 tons, 13 coils), T5 (under construction July 2019, 'significantly larger'). Development path: T4→T5→T6→T7→T8→TX. T4 results (482 shots): n=10^16-10^17 m^-3, Te=10-25 eV, τE=4-100 μsec — 3-4 orders of magnitude from reactor conditions (need ~10^20 m^-3, ~14,000 eV). The '2,000-ton' figure was always the conservative design point, not evidence of failure. This REMOVES the strongest evidence AGAINST the hypothesis from Round 8.

03 Deep_Dive_Intelligence

Overview

ASSESSMENT: The CFR '2,000-ton TX' was a DESIGN CONCEPT, not a built prototype. McGuire's 2016 UCI presentation showed TWO design points: NOMINAL: 200 MW Thermal, 5.2m diameter x 15.2m long, 230 metric tons, 1.4T, 9 MA mirror current. CONSERVATIVE: 200 MW Thermal, 10.5m diameter x 30.5m long, 1,900 metric tons, 0.84T, 20 MA mirror current. Lockheed believed weight could be reduced to 200 tons. The actual experimental devices were much smaller: T4 (0.33 m² plasma, 2 m³ chamber), T4B (2m x 1m, ~20 tons, 13 coils), T5 (under construction July 2019, 'significantly larger'). Development path: T4→T5→T6→T7→T8→TX. T4 results (482 shots): n=10^16-10^17 m^-3, Te=10-25 eV, τE=4-100 μsec — 3-4 orders of magnitude from reactor conditions (need ~10^20 m^-3, ~14,000 eV). The '2,000-ton' figure was always the conservative design point, not evidence of failure. This REMOVES the strongest evidence AGAINST the hypothesis from Round 8.

Entity Type: Assessment — CFR Reactor Design Points (McGuire 2016) is an analytical assessment synthesizing multiple data points.

Research Findings

CFR Reactor Design Points (McGuire 2016) appears in 5 research analysis documents:

AFRL Air Delivered Effects 2025:

Findings: AFRL Air Delivered Effects 2025

Source PDF: [AFRL Air Delivered Effects 2025](/archive/AFRL_Air_Delivered_Effects_2025) Date range: 1972-2025 Source org: AFRL

Summary

The Air Force Research Laboratory Munitions Directorate (AFRL/RW) issued this Broad Agency Announcement to solicit research in 'Air Delivered...

AFRL Air Delivered Effects 2025:

Findings: AFRL Air Delivered Effects 2025

Source PDF: [AFRL Air Delivered Effects 2025](/archive/AFRL_Air_Delivered_Effects_2025) Date range: 1972-2025 Source org: AFRL

Summary

The Air Force Research Laboratory Munitions Directorate (AFRL/RW) issued this Broad Agency Announcement to solicit research in 'Air Delivered...

AFRL Air Delivered Effects BAA 2024:

Findings: AFRL Air Delivered Effects BAA 2024

Source PDF: [AFRL Air Delivered Effects BAA 2024](/archive/AFRL_Air_Delivered_Effects_BAA_2024) Date range: 1972-2024 Source org: AFRL

Summary

The Air Force Research Laboratory Munitions Directorate (AFRL/RW) issued this Broad Agency Announcement in 2024 to solicit research a...

AFRL Air Delivered Effects BAA 2024:

Findings: AFRL Air Delivered Effects BAA 2024

Source PDF: [AFRL Air Delivered Effects BAA 2024](/archive/AFRL_Air_Delivered_Effects_BAA_2024) Date range: 1972-2024 Source org: AFRL

Summary

The Air Force Research Laboratory Munitions Directorate (AFRL/RW) issued this Broad Agency Announcement in 2024 to solicit research a...

AFRL LANL FRCHX 2016:

Findings: AFRL LANL FRCHX 2016

Source PDF: [AFRL LANL FRCHX 2016](/archive/AFRL_LANL_FRCHX_2016) Date range: 1981-2022 Source org: LANL

Summary

This programmatic analysis investigates the 2014-2016 closeout of the Field-Reversed Configuration Heating Experiment (FRCHX), a joint initiative by the Air Force ...

Source Documents

Intelligence derived from 4 source documents:

  • UCI — McGuire CT2016 presentation (physics.uci.edu)
  • BESA Center — Lockheed Martin CFR analysis
  • Lyncean Group — Lockheed Martin CFR presentation
  • The War Zone — T5 construction report (July 2019)

05b Related_Topics (2)

Field-Reversed Configuration
usa → russia → china → japan → israel →
Compact Fusion Reactor
usa → china → israel →

06 Research_Findings (5)

Finding

# Findings: AFRL Air Delivered Effects 2025 **Source PDF:** `AFRL_Air_Delivered_Effects_2025.pdf` **Date range:** 1972-2025 **Source org:** AFRL ## Summary The Air Force Research Laboratory Munitions Directorate (AFRL/RW) issued this Broad Agency Announcement to solicit research in 'Air Delivered Effects,' focusing on advanced airframe systems, bioprincipic sensing, and autonomous munitions technology. Updated in 2025, the document outlines a five-year solicitation for basic and applied rese

View Source PDF → AFRL Air Delivered Effects 2025
technology

# Findings: AFRL Air Delivered Effects 2025 **Source PDF:** `AFRL_Air_Delivered_Effects_2025.pdf` **Date range:** 1972-2025 **Source org:** AFRL ## Summary The Air Force Research Laboratory Munitions Directorate (AFRL/RW) issued this Broad Agency Announcement to solicit research in 'Air Delivered Effects,' focusing on advanced airframe systems, bioprincipic sensing, and autonomous munitions technology. Updated in 2025, the document outlines a five-year solicitation for basic and applied rese

View Source PDF → AFRL Air Delivered Effects 2025
Finding

# Findings: AFRL Air Delivered Effects BAA 2024 **Source PDF:** `AFRL_Air_Delivered_Effects_BAA_2024.pdf` **Date range:** 1972-2024 **Source org:** AFRL ## Summary The Air Force Research Laboratory Munitions Directorate (AFRL/RW) issued this Broad Agency Announcement in 2024 to solicit research and development proposals for conventional munitions technology under the 'Air Delivered Effects' program. The initiative covers basic and applied research in areas such as agile weapon airframes, aut

View Source PDF → AFRL Air Delivered Effects BAA 2024
technology

# Findings: AFRL Air Delivered Effects BAA 2024 **Source PDF:** `AFRL_Air_Delivered_Effects_BAA_2024.pdf` **Date range:** 1972-2024 **Source org:** AFRL ## Summary The Air Force Research Laboratory Munitions Directorate (AFRL/RW) issued this Broad Agency Announcement in 2024 to solicit research and development proposals for conventional munitions technology under the 'Air Delivered Effects' program. The initiative covers basic and applied research in areas such as agile weapon airframes, aut

View Source PDF → AFRL Air Delivered Effects BAA 2024
Finding

# Findings: AFRL LANL FRCHX 2016 **Source PDF:** `AFRL_LANL_FRCHX_2016.pdf` **Date range:** 1981-2022 **Source org:** LANL ## Summary This programmatic analysis investigates the 2014-2016 closeout of the Field-Reversed Configuration Heating Experiment (FRCHX), a joint initiative by the Air Force Research Laboratory and Los Alamos National Laboratory. The report concludes with high confidence that the technology was not terminated but successfully transitioned to a classified program at Lockh

View Source PDF → AFRL LANL FRCHX 2016

07 Key_Findings

  • ▸ Entity Type: Assessment — CFR Reactor Design Points (McGuire 2016) is an analytical assessment synthesizing multiple data points.
  • ▸ AFRL Air Delivered Effects 2025:
  • ▸ Source PDF: `AFRL_Air_Delivered_Effects_2025.pdf`
  • ▸ AFRL Air Delivered Effects 2025:
  • ▸ Source PDF: `AFRL_Air_Delivered_Effects_2025.pdf`

10 FAQ

What is CFR Reactor Design Points (McGuire 2016)? ▾
The CFR '2,000-ton TX' was a DESIGN CONCEPT, not a built prototype. McGuire's 2016 UCI presentation showed TWO design points: NOMINAL: 200 MW Thermal, 5.2m diameter x 15.2m long, 230 metric tons, 1.4T, 9 MA mirror current. CONSERVATIVE: 200 MW Thermal, 10.5m diameter x 30.5m long, 1,900 metric tons, 0.84T, 20 MA mirror current. Lockheed believed weight could be reduced to 200 tons. The actual...
What role does CFR Reactor Design Points (McGuire 2016) play in the research network? ▾
CFR Reactor Design Points (McGuire 2016) is classified under the "General" category, belonging to the ASSESSMENT // CFR DESIGN vertical group. ASSESSMENT: The CFR '2,000-ton TX' was a DESIGN CONCEPT, not a built prototype. McGuire's 2016 UCI presentation showed TWO design points: NOMINAL: 200 MW Thermal, 5.2m diameter x 15.2m long, 230...
What evidence supports the CFR Reactor Design Points (McGuire 2016) assessment? ▾
The intelligence assessment for CFR Reactor Design Points (McGuire 2016) is supported by 4 primary sources, 2 PDF documents, and 5 research findings. Key sources include "Compact Fusion Reactor, CFR — Thomas J. McGuire, Lockheed Martin (UCI US-Japan CT2016 Presentation)", "Overview of the Lockheed Martin Compact Fusion Reactor (CFR) Program — Abstract (UCI CT2016)", and "Overview of the Lockheed Martin Compact Fusion Reactor (CFR) T4B Experiment — APS 58th Annual Meeting". These documents provide the evidentiary basis for the analysis.
What does the CFR Reactor Design Points (McGuire 2016) assessment conclude? ▾
The CFR '2,000-ton TX' was a DESIGN CONCEPT, not a built prototype. McGuire's 2016 UCI presentation showed TWO design points: NOMINAL: 200 MW Thermal, 5.2m diameter x 15.2m long, 230 metric tons, 1.4T, 9 MA mirror current. CONSERVATIVE: 200 MW Thermal, 10.5m diameter x 30.5m long, 1,900 metric tons, 0.84T, 20 MA mirror current. Lockheed...
What evidence is the CFR Reactor Design Points (McGuire 2016) assessment based on? ▾
The assessment is based on 4 primary sources and 5 research findings. Overview ASSESSMENT: The CFR '2,000-ton TX' was a DESIGN CONCEPT, not a built prototype. McGuire's 2016 UCI presentation showed TWO design points: NOMINAL: 200 MW Thermal, 5.2m diameter x 15.2m...
What research findings mention CFR Reactor Design Points (McGuire 2016)? ▾
CFR Reactor Design Points (McGuire 2016) appears in 5 research analysis documents, including "AFRL Air Delivered Effects 2025", "AFRL Air Delivered Effects BAA 2024", and "AFRL LANL FRCHX 2016". Findings: AFRL Air Delivered Effects 2025 Source PDF: AFRL_Air_Delivered_Effects_2025.pdf Date range: 1972-2025 Source org: AFRL Summary The Air Force Research Laboratory Munitions Directorate...
What primary source PDFs are available for CFR Reactor Design Points (McGuire 2016)? ▾
2 PDF documents are available: "Compact Fusion Reactor, CFR" and "Overview of the Lockheed Martin Compact Fusion Reactor (CFR) Program". This presentation introduces Lockheed Martin's Compact Fusion Reactor (CFR) concept, focusing on high-beta magnetic confinement using encapsulated linear ring cusps in a magnetic bottle field. It...
What are the alternative names or aliases for CFR Reactor Design Points (McGuire 2016)? ▾
CFR Reactor Design Points (McGuire 2016) is also known as: CFR design points, CFR TX, and CFR nominal conservative. These alternative names appear across different source documents and may reflect codenames, abbreviations, or historical references.
What external sources document CFR Reactor Design Points (McGuire 2016)? ▾
CFR Reactor Design Points (McGuire 2016) is documented by 4 external sources, including 1 presentation pdf, 2 conference abstract, and 1 encyclopedia article. Notable references include "Compact Fusion Reactor, CFR — Thomas J. McGuire, Lockheed Martin (UCI US-Japan CT2016 Presentation)", "Overview of the Lockheed Martin Compact Fusion Reactor (CFR) Program — Abstract (UCI CT2016)", and "Overview of the Lockheed Martin Compact Fusion Reactor (CFR) T4B Experiment — APS 58th Annual Meeting".
What is the historical timeline for CFR Reactor Design Points (McGuire 2016)? ▾
CFR Reactor Design Points (McGuire 2016) is referenced across documents spanning 1972–2025, with activity noted in 1972, 1981, and 2014. This temporal range is derived from the primary source documents in the research archive.

Source_Documents 6 FILES

Compact Fusion Reactor, CFR
This presentation introduces Lockheed Martin's Compact Fusion Reactor (CFR) concept, focusing on high-beta magnetic confinement using encapsulated linear ring cusps in a magnetic bottle field. It outlines the nominal and conservative reactor design points, plasma stability and inflation physics, scaling challenges, results from the T4 experimental campaign, and the phased development path toward a prototype power plant.
PDF Archive →
Overview of the Lockheed Martin Compact Fusion Reactor (CFR) Program
This document is an abstract providing an overview of the Lockheed Martin Compact Fusion Reactor (CFR) Program, which aims to rapidly develop a compact fusion power plant with commercial viability and military utility. It outlines the core confinement concept, analytical modeling of loss mechanisms, physics challenges, operational reactor features, and the proposed developmental path.
PDF Archive →
UCI — McGuire CT2016 presentation (physics.uci.edu)
PDF Archive →
BESA Center — Lockheed Martin CFR analysis
PDF Archive →
Lyncean Group — Lockheed Martin CFR presentation
PDF Archive →
The War Zone — T5 construction report (July 2019)
PDF Archive →

External_References 4 REFS

UCI — McGuire CT2016 presentation (physics.uci.edu) ref
BESA Center — Lockheed Martin CFR analysis ref
Lyncean Group — Lockheed Martin CFR presentation ref
The War Zone — T5 construction report (July 2019) ref

Citations 2

  1. [1] (2015) — Lockheed Martin Corporation (Skunk Works)
  2. [2] — Lockheed Martin

External_Primary_Sources 6

patent
US Patent 9,947,420 B2 — Magnetic field plasma confinement for compact fusion power
patent
US Patent 9,959,942 — Compact fusion reactor
patent
US Patent 9,502,202 B2 — Compact cylindrical plasma fusion reactor with coherent beam emission
news 2023-08-30
Skunk Works Halted Nuclear Fusion Effort Before 2021 — Aviation Week
Steve Trimble
reference
Lockheed Martin Compact Fusion Reactor — Wikipedia
corporate
Compact Fusion — Lockheed Martin

Verified_Primary_Sources 4 SOURCES

primary physics.uci.edu presentation_pdf
Compact Fusion Reactor, CFR — Thomas J. McGuire, Lockheed Martin (UCI US-Japan CT2016 Presentation)
Verifies: Nominal Reactor Design Point: 200 MW Thermal, 5.2m diameter x 15.2m long, 230 mt, 1.4T, 9 MA mirror current; Conservative Reactor Design Point: 200 MW Thermal, 10.5m diameter x 30.5m long, 1900 mt, 0.84T, 20 MA mirror current; T4 experiment: 0.33 m² plasma, 2 m³ chamber
External Link ↗
primary physics.uci.edu conference_abstract
Overview of the Lockheed Martin Compact Fusion Reactor (CFR) Program — Abstract (UCI CT2016)
Verifies: Thomas J. McGuire from Lockheed Martin; CFR high beta magnetically encapsulated linear ring cusp confinement; Developmental path presentation
External Link ↗
primary aps.org conference_abstract
Overview of the Lockheed Martin Compact Fusion Reactor (CFR) T4B Experiment — APS 58th Annual Meeting
Verifies: T4B experiment design and goals; Thomas McGuire (Lockheed Martin); CFR diamagnetic high beta confinement scheme
External Link ↗
secondary wikipedia.org encyclopedia_article
Lockheed Martin Compact Fusion Reactor — Wikipedia (design points and prototypes)
Verifies: 200 metric ton ideal configuration vs 2,000 metric ton conservative; T4B: 1m diameter x 2m long; TX reactor: 7m diameter x 18m long, 320 MW gross
External Link ↗
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ID: cfr-design-points
Type: assessment
Region: intel-base
Last updated: Research database snapshot