“This marks a pivotal moment for GE Aerospace as we showcase our solid fuel ramjet technology in flight for the first time,” said Mark Rettig, vice president & general manager of Edison Works Business & Technology Development at GE Aerospace. “Captive carry testing of reusable flight test hardware allows for more frequent testing in realistic atmospheric conditions to better understand system behavior.”
The ATLAS system was carried by a Starfighters F-104 aircraft during a campaign that included three successful flights. GE Aerospace confirmed the system reached supersonic speeds during testing.
Funded by the Department of War via Title III of the Defense Production Act, the ATLAS project aims to scale up air-breathing propulsion technology to extend the range of munitions. This phase is focused on validating the performance capabilities of solid fuel ramjets in flight.
According to GE Aerospace, the data from ATLAS will provide essential insights for future systems requiring enhanced speed, range, and responsiveness. The programme is part of the company’s wider investment in high-speed and hypersonic propulsion technologies.
GE Aerospace acquired Innoveering in 2022 to strengthen its hypersonics portfolio and earlier this year announced upgrades to its test infrastructure at facilities in Evendale, Ohio; Bohemia, New York; and Niskayuna, New York. These enhancements will support higher-Mach, mission-relevant testing at scales not previously achievable.
