Exosonic, a low-Boom Supersonic aircraft manufacturer, has partnered with the US Air Force's Presidential and Executive Airlift Directorate (PE) to develop a supersonic executive aircraft. Exosonic's aircraft can provide US leaders and diplomats rapid transportation around the world to meet with world leaders or react to developing situations on the ground. By utilising Exosonic's boom softening techniques, the passengers can travel overland and overwater at supersonic speeds, pending regulations, to reduce their cruise times by up to half compared to existing aircraft.

“The future for global rapid passenger travel is low-Boom Supersonic flight. Low boom allows travellers to fly at supersonic speeds without generating disruptive booms for those on the ground,” says Norris Tie, CEO of Exosonic. “We are excited to win this contract as it represents not only commercial but government promise for low-Boom Supersonic travel.”

Brig. Gen. Britton, programme executive officer of PE, adds: “The Presidential and Executive Airlift Directorate is extremely excited to team with Exosonic on our quest to transform the future of executive airlift. As always, we are proud to be leading the charge to deliver cutting-edge technology to the world. Transporting key decision makers and teams around the world in half the time can be the difference between success and failure. Exosonic is a key player in getting us there. By teaming with industry, we are proving the United States Air Force can deliver technology leaps while maximising return on taxpayer investment.”

PE's contract, sponsored by the Air Force Research Lab, will support Exosonic's efforts to develop and modify the company's commercial supersonic airliner to serve as an executive transport vehicle. These modifications will include reconfiguring the aircraft cabin to include the required accommodations, communications equipment and security measures that allow US leaders and their guests to work and rest onboard the aircraft.

Boom Supersonic, an aerospace company building the world's fastest commercial airliner, has been awarded a contract by the US Air Force under its programme meant to help fund innovations with future Air Force applications. The contract will fund explorations of an Overture configuration designed for Air Force executive transport. The Department of Defense and the Air Force manage all air transport for executive branch top leadership, including Air Force One.

“Supersonic flight brings people together, whether for work, family or global diplomacy,” confirms Blake Scholl, Boom founder and CEO. “By cutting travel times we make it possible for U.S. diplomats and executive leaders to connect more frequently in person, meeting challenges and defusing potential crises with a personal touch. We're so proud to help envision a new way for the Air Force to provide transport for critical government activities.”

Hermeus Corporation, the aerospace company developing Mach 5 commercial aircraft, has also partnered with the US Air Force and the Presidential and Executive Airlift Directorate to work toward hypersonic travel for the US Department of Defense. This award comes under an Other Transaction For Prototype Agreement Direct to Phase II contract through AFWERX after Hermeus successfully tested a Mach 5 engine prototype in February 2020.

Preceding the award, the Hermeus team designed from scratch, built and successfully tested a Mach 5 engine prototype, in only nine months. The test campaign both served as risk reduction for Hermeus' turbine-based combined cycle engine architecture and illustrates the team's ability to execute with schedule and funding efficiency. “Using our pre-cooler technology, we've taken an off-the-shelf gas turbine engine and operated it at flight speed conditions faster than the famed SR-71. In addition, we've pushed the ramjet mode to Mach 4-5 conditions, demonstrating full-range hypersonic air-breathing propulsion capability,” says Glenn Case, Hermeus' CTO.