https://crsreports.congress.gov
Updated January 13, 2022
Potential Military Roles for Supersonic Transports
A new generation of supersonic (faster than the speed of
sound in level flight, also called Mach 1) passenger aircraft
is now under development. Using “low-boom” technology
developed through NASA research to minimize sound
signatures on the ground, advanced engines, and alternative
fuel concepts, these new supersonic transports (SSTs)
advertise the ability to fly over populated areas with
minimal disruption, cruise more economically, and avoid
some of the potential negative environmental effects of
carbon-based fuels in high-altitude flight.
These new aircraft have attracted interest and some
investment from the U.S. military, and have on occasion
been proposed for military missions by their developers.
The potential roles differ with the size and capabilities of
each aircraft.
History
Aircraft first went supersonic in 1947. Since then, two
supersonic transport aircraft (SSTs) served in commercial
airlines. The Soviet Tupolev Tu-144 flew from 1968 to
1999, although it was only in commercial service (with
Aeroflot) for three years. The Anglo-French Concorde flew
from 1969 to 2003, most of that time in service with British
Airways and Air France.
Due to the technology of their time, those SSTs were
hampered by high operational costs (particularly for fuel)
and operational restrictions resulting from many countries’
prohibitions against sonic booms over land. (A sonic boom
results when the shock wave created by a supersonic
aircraft touches the ground, and is heard as a sharp, loud
report resembling an explosion.) These restrictions
relegated earlier SSTs to trans-oceanic service, excluding
them from a number of potentially profitable routes.
Current Principal Developers
Two companies are leading the development of new SSTs,
with a few others newer to the field, and one previous
leader having now shut down. The three main firms are at
different stages in the process, and targeting somewhat
different markets.
Boom Supersonic
Denver-based Boom is developing the Overture, a 65- to
88-passenger airliner designed for Mach 2.2 with a range of
5,100 miles. The company expects to fly a one-third-scale
demonstrator this year. Projected to enter service in 2029,
the Overture is targeted to cost $200 million for the basic
aircraft.
In January 2022, Boom announced receipt of an Air Force
contract worth up to $60 million over three years to
investigate using the Overture for surveillance,
reconnaissance, special forces deployment, and other roles.
Figure 1. Boom Overture
Artist’s Rendering
Source: Boom Supersonic.
Boom was founded and is run by Blake Scholl, a former
software engineer. It has raised backing primarily from
Silicon Valley venture funds and is partnering with Rolls-
Royce to develop engine concepts.
Exosonic
Exosonic, of Los Angeles, is designing a 70-passenger,
Mach 1.8 low-boom airliner with a 5,700-mile range. CEO
Norris Tie comes from the aerospace engineering world.
The company has yet to announce a timeline for its aircraft,
although a subscale demonstrator is reportedly slated for
2025.
Figure 2. Exosonic Airliner
Artist’s Rendering
Source: Exosonic.
Aerion
Although having led in development of a new-generation
low-boom SST, Aerion, of Melbourne, FL, ceased
operations in May 2021, having completed wind tunnel
tests of its AS2, intended as an 8- to 10-passenger business
jet with a 5,400-mile range at a top speed of Mach 1.4. The
three-engine jet was anticipated to enter service in 2027 at a
target price of $120 million. The company was founded by
entrepreneur Robert Bass and was run by Tom Vice,
formerly head of Northrop Grumman Aeronautics. Boeing
held a stake in the company, and General Electric had been
designing the AS2’s engines.
