A Review of United States Air Force and Department of Defense Aerospace Propulsion Needs

Because rocket and air-breathing propulsion systems are the foundation on which planning for future aerospace systems rests, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Science, Technology, and Engineering (SAF/AQR), with support from the Director, Defense Research and Engineering (DDR&E), asked the Air Force Studies Board (AFSB) of the National Research Council (NRC) to review and comment on the planning for propulsion development that is under way at the Department of Defense (DoD) and the commercial technical base for these air-breathing and rocket engines that allow access to space and for in-space propulsion systems (see Box 1-1 for the study's statement of task). This full-spectrum propulsion study assesses the existing technical base in these areas and examines the future Air Force capabilities the base will be expected to support; it also defines gaps and recommends where future warfighter capabilities not yet fully defined could be met by current science and technology (S&T) development plans. The recommendations in this report may shape DoD engine development planning for the next 15 years and, possibly, military capabilities beyond that.
ISBN: 0-309-66243-5.