Pratt & Whitney Engine Selected for Hypersonic Propulsion System

Pratt & Whitney’s F100 turbofan will act as the turbine portion of Hermeus’ turbine-based combined cycle engine to power the company’s Darkhorse hypersonic UAS By DA Staff / 28 Dec 2022

Discover Leading Defense Technology Solutions

Discover cutting-edge solutions from leading global suppliers
SUPPLIER SPOTLIGHT
Hermeus Darkhorse
Follow DA

Hermeus has selected the Pratt & Whitney F100 turbofan for integration into Hermeus’ larger hypersonic engine that powers its Darkhorse hypersonic Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) for defense and intelligence operations. 

Pratt & Whitney’s F100 turbofan, which is used in the F-15 and F-16 aircraft, will act as the turbine portion of Hermeus’ Turbine-Based Combined Cycle (TBCC) engine named Chimera II. Chimera II is a hypersonic TBCC engine – a hybrid between a turbine engine and a ramjet, which allows for both low-speed and high-speed operation.

According to the company, securing this off-the-shelf turbine engine will save Hermeus billions of dollars in research and development costs and years of schedule. This new engine contract also keeps the Darkhorse program on track for engine testing in 2024. 

“The F100 is a legendary turbine engine that will fit within our larger engine architecture extremely well,” said Hermeus CTO Glenn Case. “We chose it for its reliability, performance, and because it’s currently in production. We’re thrilled to have Pratt & Whitney as a partner on our journey to making hypersonic flight a reality.”

“The F100 engine recently celebrated 50 years of service and 30 million flight hours, demonstrating its dependability and capabilities,” said Chris Johnson, VP of Fighter and Mobility Programs at Pratt & Whitney. “Pratt & Whitney’s participation with Hermeus’ Darkhorse program is a great example of creating innovative partnerships in aviation and will play a crucial role in addressing our national security challenges.”

Find suppliers and manufacturers of engines and transmission systems and propulsion systems>>

Posted by DA Staff Connect & Contact

Latest Articles

U.S. Army Orders Advanced Manpack & Leader Radios to Equip Soldiers

The U.S. Army has awarded L3Harris Technologies with full-rate production orders for its Manpack and Leader radios, delivering secure, resilient battlefield communications for soldiers

Feb 07, 2025
XENTA Air Defense Radar Upgraded with Cambridge Pixel Software

Cambridge Pixel has delivered a high-performance radar control and display system for Weibel Scientific’s XENTA surveillance radar, enhancing tracking, control, and integration capabilities

Feb 07, 2025
Enhancing GPS Security with Anti-Jamming System & M-Code Receiver Integration

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has integrated its ADA Anti-Jamming system with the M-code GPS receiver, enhancing GPS signal protection against evolving threats and ensuring reliable military performance

Feb 07, 2025
Advanced Sonobuoys to Enhance Anti-Submarine Warfare

Thales has signed a contract with the French Defence Procurement Agency to supply the French Navy with several hundred SonoFlash sonobuoys, designed to enhance France's strategic anti-submarine warfare capabilities

Feb 06, 2025
Creomagic Demonstrates Secure Backhaul Technology for Tactical Communications

Creomagic has successfully demonstrated a robust and secure backhaul solution for mobile LTE base stations, leveraging its CreoLand MANET technology in collaboration with a key defense partner

Feb 06, 2025
New Contract to Supply NVGs to British Armed Forces

Instro, a subsidiary of Elbit Systems UK, will supply additional XACT nv33 Night Vision Goggles to the British Armed Forces under a £16 million contract

Feb 06, 2025

Featured Content

Creomagic Demonstrates Secure Backhaul Technology for Tactical Communications

Creomagic has successfully demonstrated a robust and secure backhaul solution for mobile LTE base stations, leveraging its CreoLand MANET technology in collaboration with a key defense partner

Feb 06, 2025
Greensea IQ Expands Defense Leadership with Record Growth

After successful contracts for the Bayonet AUGV with the US Navy, US Marine Corps, and foreign militaries, Greensea IQ has closed a record-breaking year of growth in 2024

Jan 31, 2025
Latest Software Bundle Released for ISR Quadcopter

PDW CORE is the latest software package from PDW featuring a user-friendly touch interface, a PDW flight simulator, mission planning tools, an ATAK plug-in, and a laptop-compatible C100 updater

Jan 30, 2025
Revector’s Latest 4-Channel Covert Solution for Tactical Operations

Revector’s newly launched IMSI locator, the 4-channel Portable Covert Unit 2.0, delivers improved performance, flexibility, and rugged design, tailored for demanding security, defense, and search-and-rescue operations

Jan 27, 2025
Galvion Releases New Helmets for Military & SAR

Galvion is exhibiting new helmets at SHOT Show 2025 in Las Vegas, The Batlskin Hellbender TE (Tactical Edition) and the Batlskin Caiman SAR (Search and Rescue)

Jan 23, 2025
What is MIL-DTL-38999?

Micropol breaks down the definition, benefits, and roles of the MIL-DTL-38999 connector, a robust and reliable cornerstone in modern military and aerospace connectivity

Jan 21, 2025