Major Shaitan Singh
SENIOR MEMBER
- Joined
- Dec 7, 2010
- Messages
- 3,550
- Reaction score
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- Country
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Air Dominance of the Future
A rapidly evolving global defense landscape is prompting the way the U.S. and its allies develop technology to deter current and emerging threats. Revolutionary thinking that’s informed but not limited by our past experiences will produce the non-linear, game-changing combat capabilities required for our nation’s security.
Led by the Skunk Works®, Lockheed Martin has been working alongside the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Air Force, and Navy to determine viable approaches to maintain U.S. air dominance capabilities in the post-2035 world.
We are always exploring new technical capabilities and options for the development of future next generation air dominance (NGAD) air platforms, as well as potential enhancements to current platforms that are projected to be part of the future joint force structure.
The Skunk Works’ spirit of innovation and development of leading edge technology for aircraft like the SR-71, F-117, F-22 and F-35, is what our customers have come to rely on for more than 70 years.
Air Mobility
C-5 and C-130 to improve aerodynamic efficiency, drag reducing microvanes on the C-130 aft-body, formation flight technologies, and a cost-index flying analysis of the current fleet to optimize the flight speeds and altitudes. We’re also working closely with aircraft engine manufacturers by using their latest technologies and most fuel efficient engines while helping them refine their designs based on our aircraft needs.
This research has helped draw a picture of what future transport aircraft may look like and how they may operate. While we are studying several different configuration concepts, we’ve found that all share a number of commonalities, five commonalities to be precise:
1. They all have swept, high-aspect ratio wings for aerodynamic efficiency and speed.
2. Future transport aircraft retain an upswept aft fuselage and low cargo floor to facilitate cargo loading via a ramp and doors similar to today’s airlifters.
3. They have some form of a tail surfaces to ensure that the aircraft is controllable during airdrop mission.
4. They incorporate advanced composite and metallic materials, and manufacturing technologies to lighten the structure.
5. They incorporate incredibly efficient engines.
Need for Speed
In today’s world, time is money. And the ability to go fast has applications in both civilian life and in the battlespace.
Imagine being able to travel from New York City to Los Angles in two hours. This reality may be closer than you think. Today, one of the reasons we can’t commercially fly supersonically is because of the environmental impacts that come with flying at high speeds. To achieve reductions in supersonic transportation airport noise, a totally new kind of propulsion system must be developed along with new techniques for low noise jet exhaust, integrated fan noise suppression, airframe noise suppression and computer customized airport noise abatement. We’re working with NASA to mitigate the impacts of the sonic boom and to develop solutions that will dramatically change commercial travel as we know it.
Now imagine being able to fly from New York City to just about anywhere in the world in less than an hour. This capability won’t be coming to an airport near you but the development of a hypersonic aircraft would forever change our government’s ability to respond to conflict. When most people think about hypersonic aircraft, many believe they would have to be large, expensive and exotic. It’s time we change that perception. Our work is shaping a technology maturation path to build more advanced hypersonic vehicles that could be deployed in 2030 and beyond.
Persistent ISR
Most of us will never fully understand or appreciate the impact of the missions of America’s spy planes. But that’s the point. For decades, U.S. reconnaissance aircraft have been relentlessly looking deep into enemy territory to provide sensitive information to our country in an effort to keep the peace.
There’s great diversity in today’s intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) platforms, with unmanned and manned options large and small. Regardless of their physical differences, our systems all have common denominators: high powered sensors to provide crisp, clear imagery and data.
As the threat evolves to an anti-access/area denial environment, a more advanced, persistent ISR system is needed to provide lifesaving intelligence for our soldiers. We’re working on solutions that combine stealth technology, speed and improved sensors to be able to penetrate and operate in a hostile environment. All forms of intelligence are needed to complete the picture: human, space, surface, cyber, and air.
A rapidly evolving global defense landscape is prompting the way the U.S. and its allies develop technology to deter current and emerging threats. Revolutionary thinking that’s informed but not limited by our past experiences will produce the non-linear, game-changing combat capabilities required for our nation’s security.
Led by the Skunk Works®, Lockheed Martin has been working alongside the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Air Force, and Navy to determine viable approaches to maintain U.S. air dominance capabilities in the post-2035 world.
We are always exploring new technical capabilities and options for the development of future next generation air dominance (NGAD) air platforms, as well as potential enhancements to current platforms that are projected to be part of the future joint force structure.
The Skunk Works’ spirit of innovation and development of leading edge technology for aircraft like the SR-71, F-117, F-22 and F-35, is what our customers have come to rely on for more than 70 years.
Air Mobility
C-5 and C-130 to improve aerodynamic efficiency, drag reducing microvanes on the C-130 aft-body, formation flight technologies, and a cost-index flying analysis of the current fleet to optimize the flight speeds and altitudes. We’re also working closely with aircraft engine manufacturers by using their latest technologies and most fuel efficient engines while helping them refine their designs based on our aircraft needs.
This research has helped draw a picture of what future transport aircraft may look like and how they may operate. While we are studying several different configuration concepts, we’ve found that all share a number of commonalities, five commonalities to be precise:
1. They all have swept, high-aspect ratio wings for aerodynamic efficiency and speed.
2. Future transport aircraft retain an upswept aft fuselage and low cargo floor to facilitate cargo loading via a ramp and doors similar to today’s airlifters.
3. They have some form of a tail surfaces to ensure that the aircraft is controllable during airdrop mission.
4. They incorporate advanced composite and metallic materials, and manufacturing technologies to lighten the structure.
5. They incorporate incredibly efficient engines.
Need for Speed
In today’s world, time is money. And the ability to go fast has applications in both civilian life and in the battlespace.
Imagine being able to travel from New York City to Los Angles in two hours. This reality may be closer than you think. Today, one of the reasons we can’t commercially fly supersonically is because of the environmental impacts that come with flying at high speeds. To achieve reductions in supersonic transportation airport noise, a totally new kind of propulsion system must be developed along with new techniques for low noise jet exhaust, integrated fan noise suppression, airframe noise suppression and computer customized airport noise abatement. We’re working with NASA to mitigate the impacts of the sonic boom and to develop solutions that will dramatically change commercial travel as we know it.
Now imagine being able to fly from New York City to just about anywhere in the world in less than an hour. This capability won’t be coming to an airport near you but the development of a hypersonic aircraft would forever change our government’s ability to respond to conflict. When most people think about hypersonic aircraft, many believe they would have to be large, expensive and exotic. It’s time we change that perception. Our work is shaping a technology maturation path to build more advanced hypersonic vehicles that could be deployed in 2030 and beyond.
Persistent ISR
Most of us will never fully understand or appreciate the impact of the missions of America’s spy planes. But that’s the point. For decades, U.S. reconnaissance aircraft have been relentlessly looking deep into enemy territory to provide sensitive information to our country in an effort to keep the peace.
There’s great diversity in today’s intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) platforms, with unmanned and manned options large and small. Regardless of their physical differences, our systems all have common denominators: high powered sensors to provide crisp, clear imagery and data.
As the threat evolves to an anti-access/area denial environment, a more advanced, persistent ISR system is needed to provide lifesaving intelligence for our soldiers. We’re working on solutions that combine stealth technology, speed and improved sensors to be able to penetrate and operate in a hostile environment. All forms of intelligence are needed to complete the picture: human, space, surface, cyber, and air.
