Ultra-Quiet Alternate Fuels Engine for Unmanned Vehicles and APUs

The Air Force needs new, innovative small engine technology to provide propulsion for small unmanned aerial systems (SUAS). Improved propulsion technology is needed to support Group 2 and Group 3 UAS for DoD’s global Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions. Innovative propulsion technology is needed that provides quiet operation, increased specific power, improved specific fuel consumption (SFC) and increased durability. The Air Force also wants innovative defense-related dual-purpose technologies and solutions. ERA produces ultra-quiet alternate fuel engines for unmanned vehicles, APUs and commercial applications that can meet the following SUAS objectives: Quiet operation, increased specific power, improved specific fuel consumption (SFC) and increased durability.  ERA will perform R&D, fabrication and testing on the Erickson migrating combustion chamber (MCC) engine to integrate this engine into a Group 2 unmanned vehicle for flight testing.  The MCC internal combustion (IC) engine will provide extremely low acoustic and IR signatures for covert operations. It will have the capability to operate on JP-8 fuel and provide enhanced durability. This Phase II will continue the work from Phase I to determine the required MCC engine enhancements and integration that is required for unmanned vehicle flight testing and perform UAV flight testing.