Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne awarded $1 million contract to design engine for Transformer vehicle
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) awarded Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne a contract, with a value up to $1 million, to design an engine for the Transformer (TX), a vertical take-off and landing, road-worthy concept study vehicle. The engine design will use technology from the EnduroCORE engine developed by Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne. Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne is a United Technologies Corp. company.
"We are honored DARPA chose Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne to design an engine for a vehicle that will help our nation's troops effectively and safely carry out missions without being constrained by existing roadways and conventional landing zones," said Scott Claflin, director of Power Innovations, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne. "Since 2005, we have been talking to the Marines and DARPA about the propulsion needs for a Transformer Vehicle, and the EnduroCORE engine characteristics address those needs."
The EnduroCORE engine is a durable, lightweight, high-performance diesel engine designed to support applications ranging from propulsion to power generation. It is mechanically simple for reliability, scalable to support a wide-range of critical missions, and has demonstrated quiet operation in testing. The EnduroCORE engine is also a full-compression, full-expansion, diesel-cycle engine, which makes its fuel consumption comparable to diesel piston engines. High rotating speeds enable a high power-to-weight ratio comparable to gas turbines.
The TX vehicle, still in its conceptual phase, will be designed to carry up to four people. It will be capable of vertical takeoff and landing and traveling up to 250 nautical miles without having to refuel. Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne will work with the two DARPA prime contractors to develop a conceptual design of an engine for TX vehicles that could be developed and available by 2015.
Source: Pratt & Whitney
More from Land Warfare
-
![Milrem outlines plans for Havoc and Vector as Ukrainian THeMIS numbers set to double]()
Milrem outlines plans for Havoc and Vector as Ukrainian THeMIS numbers set to double
Milrem’s THeMIS uncrewed ground vehicle is one of the most battle-proven medium UGV platforms in service, with the company looking to have production versions of new large platforms ready before the end of the decade.
-
![US Precision Strike Missile makes combat debut in Operation Epic Fury]()
US Precision Strike Missile makes combat debut in Operation Epic Fury
CENTCOM confirmed that PrSMs have been deployed in the offensive against Iran, bringing what it called “an unrivalled deep strike capability”.
-
![February land forces roundup: ST Engineering and Russia lift the lid on new platforms]()
February land forces roundup: ST Engineering and Russia lift the lid on new platforms
This month we saw a major presence from Turkish, Russian and Chinese companies at the World Defense Show with new vehicles from major suppliers, while elsewhere there were evolving mortar programmes and artillery modernisation efforts.
