BAE Systems Brontanax CCA

Certainly will be interesting to see what future fighters these names get allocated to Ruben James. I always like it when they reveal the names of programs to aircraft.
 
Reuben James said:
Expecting follow-up programmes to be named:
  • Donnergott
  • Tonitrus
  • Tordenguden
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Donnergott sounds like a brand of kebbabs. Or potato chips. And the last one, like a brand of Norwegian beer. Tonitrus, now we have a french word : tonitruant, which means "which makes an enormous noise" and also "colorfoul"
 
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H_K said:
The inboard control surfaces remind me a little of the F4D Skyray's pitch trimmers. These were essential in providing enough pitch authority on landing at high AoA (which is how a delta like the Skyray could fly at slow enough speeds to land on carriers).

So in this case the outer trailing edge surfaces might pitch down slightly to create more lift for short landings, while the inner surfaces pitching up slightly to keep the aircraft trimmed on approach?
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To me, it looks far more like they got most of the way through development and build and then realised they didn't have enough pitch control power so their only option was longer chord inboard surfaces...
 
red admiral said:
To me, it looks far more like they got most of the way through development and build and then realised they didn't have enough pitch control power so their only option was longer chord inboard surfaces...
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Not enough pitch authority? Shocking. Who'd've thunk it.
 

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timmymagic said:
It was known that Brontanax would initially have a US made Williams engine, presumably the FJ44. But if the below is true...someone in Government needs to knock some heads together....

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/busines...s-royce-clash-over-all-british-fighter-drone/
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Rolls has developed a small demonstrator engine known as Orpheus and bosses are seeking to market it to militaries around the world for use in loyal-wingman drones, which fly alongside fighter jets to provide protection.

But in talks about the Brontanax demonstrator, Rolls was seen to not “lean in” fully to the project and its engine was deemed too expensive by BAE, according to a person briefed on the situation.
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Orpheus is a demonstrator programme itself, is it not? Did RR really think BAE, who had already spent a decent chunk of their own money on Brontanax, were going to use a risky, unproven tech demonstrator to power it?

If Brontanax goes into production, then yes, it should use a British engine. This prototype/demonstrator, intended for rapid trials, doesn't need one.
 
WatcherZero said:
Current powerplant is a Williams Turbofan but they are intending it to use the RR Orpheus engine.
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Orpheus…. Is that the RR Pegasus core maybe with a small bypass fan? I mean the BS Pegasus for the Harrier was a BS Orpheus derived core driving a large fan. If it was, then many parts could be off the shelf, well understood thermodynamics/structure so not a high development risk, probably within the capacity of a small team….. all makes sense.
 
timmymagic said:
It was known that Brontanax would initially have a US made Williams engine, presumably the FJ44. But if the below is true...someone in Government needs to knock some heads together....

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/busines...s-royce-clash-over-all-british-fighter-drone/
Click to expand...

It said RR wouldn't supply one for the demonstrator at the price they wanted, which considering how it needs to be scaled up from the existing Orpheus demonstrator seems valid for a small run of engines for a single aircraft that might not lead to a full order vs an old off the shelf engine. Its not that they wont make one available for serial production if asked.
 
Just discovered the Orpheus is actually connected to a program which started 10 years ago, which aimed to fill a gap in Military engine fundamental design. It was very budget restricted but did result in very rudimentary test engine which ran. It was locally christened Orpheus although that was never its official name. The development continued at a slow pace until recently.
 
What a brilliant idea.
Add a 1:1 bypass ratio fan to the new Orpheus, and add swiveling side nozzles, for a 4poster Harrier-like setup.
Mount in in the Brontanax, which seems to have an uncanny resemblance to the Boeing X-32 JSF demonstrator, and you have solved the STOL problem for use on carrier decks: or even VTOL with a suitable engine.
Only problem would be locating the IWBs
 

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