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Affordable Responsive Modular Rocket
The Affordable Responsive Modular Rocket (ARMR) engine architecture presents a paradigm shift in new liquid engine development.
SUCCESS STORIES
MODPROP
Modular Propulsion (ModProp) will enable U.S. Space Force and U.S. Space Command to perform Dynamic Space Operations (DSO), Tactically Responsive Space (TacRS), and Space Mobility and Logistics (SM&L) across the Space Domain.
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STARS
STARS seeks to address this concept by leveraging state-of-the-art artificial intelligence/ machine learning (AI/ML) technologies.
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XQ-58A VALKYRIE
The XQ-58A Valkyrie is a low cost, high performance unmanned air vehicle developed through an Air Force Research Laboratory partnership with Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc.
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HIGH MACH TURBINE ENGINE (HMTE)
High Mach Turbine Engines are compact and enable robust highspeed operations over long distances.
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RE-ARM
AFRL’s Rapid Energetics & Advanced Rocket Manufacturing (RE-ARM) program is developing inexpensive Solid Rocket Motor (SRM) production equipment enabling revolutionary, affordable, flexible, scalable capability to produce state-of-the-art SRMs to support national defense needs.
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ROTATING DETONATION ENGINES (RDE)
A Rotating Detonation Engine (RDE) is essentially a more compact and efficient method of creating thrust for a wide variety of military relevant systems.
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BOLT II
The BOLT II flight experiment launched in March 2022 from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.
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AFRL’s Rocket Lab Past, Present and Future
Through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) with numerous companies over the last ten years AFRL has been transitioning advanced engine technologies to “new space” launch vehicles putting satellites into orbit.
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ROTATING DETONATION ROCKET ENGINES (RDRE)
AFRL’s Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine (RDRE) program is developing more efficient, compact and stable combustor designs for Liquid Rocket Engines (LREs).
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ARISE AND FLY
AFRL is looking to expand rocket propulsion technology into new territory with a first-of-its-kind prototype vehicle powered by an aerospike rocket engine.
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TACTICAL OFFBOARD SENSING (TOBS)
TOBS is a Small Unmanned Aircraft System (SUAS) launched from a host platform to enhance under-the-weather and standoff operations.
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HYDROCARBON BOOST (HCB) TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
A preburner is the heart of a staged combustion liquid rocket engine, harnessing the energy to power the other engine subsystems. The Air Force Research Laboratory successfully completed testing of a next-generation rocket preburner as a part of the HydroCarbon Boost (HCB) program.
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Advanced Spacecraft Energetic Non-Toxic (ASCENT) Propellant
ASCENT (Advanced Spacecraft Energetic Non-Toxic) propellant, formerly known as AF-M315E, is an advanced monopropellant formulation developed by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Rocket Propulsion Division (RQR).
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Shape Adaptable Morphing Wing Technology
Conventional aircraft are generally designed and optimized for a single mission. Our engineers are changing the game of future aircraft development with a Variable Camber Compliant Wing (VCCW).
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X-60A Hypersonic Flight Research Vehicle
X-60A is an airdropped liquid rocket specifically designed for hypersonic flight research. It features tailorable trajectories at hypersonic speeds and flight conditions.
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Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance
Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System (Auto GCAS) is a software update that prevents an aircraft from impacting the ground by automatically pulling the aircraft up before an accident can occur.
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