Post by George Abbey, Jr.

Hypersonic Mayhem Linked To Multi-Cycle Air-Breathing Engine - The acknowledgment is the clearest indication that Mayhem will serve as a testbed for dual-mode or turbine-based combined cycle (TBCC) hypersonic propulsion systems. AFRL first disclosed Mayhem in a request for information published on Aug. 12 for an “Expendable Hypersonic Multi-Mission Air-Breathing Demonstrator.” The Air Force seeks a new vehicle capable of hosting at least three different payloads on each flight. No demonstrator by that name appears in Air Force budget documents, but a spending justification report published in February does name an effort to launch a program called the “Multi-Mission Cruiser.” “Mayhem, in its early planning stages, was described as a ‘Multi-Mission Cruiser’ due to the focus on sustained hypersonic flight capabilities independent of potential payloads,” AFRL said in response to emailed questions. https://lnkd.in/emGRUvr