REACTION ENGINES TO WORK WITH ROLLS ROYCE AND RAF TO DEVELOP REUSABLE HYPERSONIC TECH

Abingdon-based Reaction Engines is to work with Rolls-Royce, the Royal Air Force’s Rapid Capabilities Office, the government’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory and the UK’s National Security Strategic Investment Fund to significantly enhance UK defence capabilities through the development of innovative, reusable hypersonic technologies.

The Hypersonic Air Vehicle Experimental (HVX) Programme aims to establish the UK as a leader in reusable hypersonic air systems.

HVX’s immediate objective is to build on existing technologies which can cut the cost of developing a reusable high-Mach/ hypersonic air vehicle.

Reaction Engines’ novel precooler and SABRE (which stands for Synergetic Air Breathing Rocket Engine) is a new class of engine developed by the company for propelling high speed aircraft and spacecraft.

Air Vice-Marshal Linc Taylor, Chief of Staff Air Capability, Royal Air Force, said: “This activity presents a unique opportunity to experiment with pioneering UK technology to inform the art of the possible and challenge traditional views on the cost and time associated with development and fielding of high-Mach platforms. This partnership benefits from a series of aligned initiatives, integrating world-class skills and technologies on a series of nearterm experimentations to inform our future capability planning.”

Mark Thomas, Chief Executive of Reaction Engines, said: “Reaction Engines is excited to be leading this ambitious, future-focused, programme with the Rapid Capabilities Office and Strategic Partners, bringing together the best of the best in technology, talent and innovation, to provide the UK with a unique capability in reusable hypersonic systems.”

National Composites Centre in European manufacturing first

Engineers at the National Composites Centre (NCC) in Bristol have completed a European first by manufacturing Ceramic Matrix Composites using Automated Fibre Placement technology. This could unlock the high-temperature capabilities of these materials within engines –making them more efficient and reducing CO₂ emissions.

The project was completed as part of the NCC’s Core Research programme, and supported by Rolls-Royce, Reaction Engines, MBDA and 3M.

Angus Braithwaite, Senior Materials Engineer at Reaction Engines, said: “Alongside the development of its air breathing, high speed propulsion systems, Reaction Engines recognises that CMCs will play an important part in optimising space-access, highspeed flight and other aerospace applications.”