Supersonic Aircraft Can Vary Wing Sweep For Most Efficient
Performance
Northrop Grumman Corporation announced Friday the company has
been selected by the US Department of Defense to design the
first-ever supersonic flying wing aircraft that can vary the sweep
of its wing for the most efficient flight performance.
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has
awarded a contract to Northrop Grumman's Integrated Systems sector
for the first phase of its Oblique Flying Wing (OFW) program, which
aims to design and conduct flight tests of an experimental
tailless, supersonic, variable-sweep flying wing. DARPA's goal is
to demonstrate that such aircraft are feasible so that similar
designs can be considered for future military missions.
"The selection of Northrop Grumman for the Oblique Flying Wing
program recognizes our long tradition of innovation and technical
ability," said Charlie Guthrie, director of Advanced Capabilities
Development for Integrated Systems' Western Region. "We look
forward to working with DARPA and its government team to make
aviation history."
The oblique flying wing would vary its wing sweep (the angle of
the wing's leading edge relative to the direction of flight)
depending on its speed. At low speeds (above) the wing sweep is
relatively low, providing an efficient aerodynamic design.
At high speeds (below), right wing will sweep forward and the
left wing will sweep back to reduce supersonic wave drag. The
engines are mounted under the center of the wing.
The supersonic design envisioned by the OFW program offers
potential benefits for missions requiring rapid deployment, long
range and long endurance. In theory, an oblique flying wing could
maximize its performance in every flight regime: takeoff or
landing, high or low altitude, supersonic or subsonic speed.
During the program's first phase, which will conclude in
November 2007, Northrop Grumman will conduct technology maturation
to reduce the risk of the critical technologies associated with its
OFW concepts and develop a preliminary design for the experimental
aircraft. DARPA is providing funding of $10.3 million for this
phase.
The preliminary design effort could be followed by a second
phase to finalize the design, then build an experimental aircraft
and flight test it. First flight of this "X-plane" is envisioned in
2010 or 2011.
With a "system-of-systems" approach, the Advanced Capabilities
Development group at Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems brings
world-class capabilities in system design, air-vehicle design,
flight controls, vehicle management systems, network-enabling
technologies and survivability. It also leverages other
capabilities from across Northrop Grumman to offer innovative
future solutions that meet emerging customer needs.
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