Overview

2024 SBIR award: 'Fusion-Augmented Turbofan Propulsion for Sustainable Aviation.' Government-funded project to integrate a compact fusion reactor with a jet turbine for aviation. 'We are developing an air-breathing fusion engine technology to replace the chemical energy in jet fuel. This could be a truly zero-emissions solution to commercial and military aviation. Using aneutronic fusion, no radiation dosage to passengers or cargo would be incurred. Additionally, the system has the potential to serve as a single propulsion system for air and space that utilizes the existing aircraft and airport infrastructure which would truly make space travel commonplace.' 'The core technology is a heat exchanger that integrates with a compact fusion reactor and existing jet turbine designs with minimum modifications.' This is the PUBLIC admission that fusion-powered aircraft are being pursued. The question is whether there is a classified program that is further along.

Entity Type: Program — Fusion Turbofan SBIR is a government or defense program/initiative.

Network Relationships

Fusion Turbofan SBIR connects to 5 entities in the intelligence network:

Events (1):

• → Skunk Works® CFR Program: Public fusion aviation — CFR concept continued

Organisations (2):

• → DOE: SBIR funded by DOE
• ← Aerofuse: Aerofuse is the SBIR recipient

Persons (2):

• ← Ryan Weed: PI on AFRL fusion aviation SBIR
• ← Kevin Bowcutt: Advised HyENA — fusion-powered Mach 5 hypersonic at 100 kft

Research Findings

Fusion Turbofan SBIR appears in 5 research analysis documents:

AMSC HTS Superconductor Analysis 2024:

Findings: AMSC HTS Superconductor Analysis 2024

Source PDF: [AMSC_HTS_Superconductor_Analysis_2024.pdf](/archive/AMSC_HTS_Superconductor_Analysis_2024) Date range: 2015-2024 Source org: LANL

Summary

This Technology Watch Report provides a comprehensive technical analysis of American Superconductor Corporation’s (AMSC) second-g...

DoD DefenseAcquisitionGuidebook 2013:

Findings: Dod Defenseacquisitionguidebook 2013

Source PDF: [DoD_DefenseAcquisitionGuidebook_2013.pdf](/archive/DoD_DefenseAcquisitionGuidebook_2013) Date range: 1973-2018 Source org: NASA

Summary

Published by the Department of Defense in 2013, the Defense Acquisition Guidebook provides the acquisition workforce with discretio...

GlobalEnergyCorp LCF Research 2024:

Findings: GlobalEnergyCorp LCF Research 2024

Source PDF: [GlobalEnergyCorp_LCF_Research_2024.pdf](/archive/GlobalEnergyCorp_LCF_Research_2024) Date range: 2013-2024 Source org: SNL

Summary

This dossier analyzes the research of physicist Larry Forsley and Global Energy Corporation regarding Lattice Confinement Fusion (LCF) a...

LockheedMartin ClandestineAerospaceProgram 2024:

Findings: LockheedMartin ClandestineAerospaceProgram 2024

Source PDF: [LockheedMartin_ClandestineAerospaceProgram_2024.pdf](/archive/LockheedMartin_ClandestineAerospaceProgram_2024) Date range: 1975-2024 Source org: LANL

Summary

This intelligence assessment analyzes the roles of key personnel and the tripartite organizational structure ...

MSNW LLC Fusion Driven Rocket 2018:

Findings: MSNW LLC Fusion Driven Rocket 2018

Source PDF: [MSNW_LLC_Fusion_Driven_Rocket_2018.pdf](/archive/MSNW_LLC_Fusion_Driven_Rocket_2018) Date range: 2017-2018 Source org: LANL

Summary

This analytical report investigates the strategic transition of MSNW LLC and its founder, Dr. John Slough, into clandestine research fo...

Source Documents

Intelligence derived from 1 source documents:

• SBIR.gov — Award 210583 (2024)