SAN DIEGO, Dec. 13, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (Nasdaq: KTOS), a leading National Security Solutions provider, announced today that Florida Turbine Technologies (FTT), a Kratos subsidiary, has been chosen as the engine design team for the Boom-led collaboration on Symphony, a new propulsion system to be designed and optimized for Boom Supersonic’s Overture supersonic airliner.
Symphony will be a bespoke design leveraging proven technologies and materials to achieve optimal supersonic performance and efficiency. Overture’s new propulsion system is expected to operate at net zero carbon and meet Chapter 14 noise levels. When compared to derivative approaches, Symphony is also expected to deliver a 25% increase in time on wing and significantly lower engine maintenance costs, reducing overall airplane operating costs for airline customers by 10%.
“Developing a supersonic engine specifically for Overture offers by far the best value proposition for our customers,” said Blake Scholl, Founder and CEO of Boom Supersonic. “Through the Symphony program, we can provide our customers with an economically and environmentally sustainable supersonic airplane—a combination unattainable with the current constraints of derivative engines and industry norms.”
As the Symphony design and engineering lead, FTT will utilize its leading supersonic engine design experience and expertise under a standard commercial T&M arrangement, including key engineers directly involved in and in support of the design of the F-119 and F-135 supersonic engines that power the F-22 and F-35. Additionally, FTT’s team of engineers and technicians has also supported the design and development of engine classes from business jets to the largest wide-body aircraft and has extensive experience with the industrial gas turbine industry, bringing valuable experience with long-life engines and alternative fuel systems. GE Additive will provide additive manufacturing design consulting and technology, and StandardAero will partner for maintenance.
“The team at FTT has a decades-long history of developing innovative, high-performance propulsion solutions," said Stacey Rock, President of Florida Turbine Technologies. “We are proud to team with Boom and its Symphony partners and look forward to developing the first bespoke engine for sustainable, economical supersonic flight for both commercial and potential national security applications.”
Eric DeMarco, President and CEO of Kratos, said “Kratos is a technology company in the national security and commercial market areas. Applying our leading technology and engine design experience and capabilities for supersonic applications for military and commercial programs and systems has been a long-term strategic focus for Kratos. Complementary to our current work on engines and propulsion systems, the Boom relationship is exciting for our company and our employees and will assist Kratos in continuing to attract the best and brightest engineers and technicians to our Company.”
Symphony Technical Overview
Symphony will be a medium-bypass turbofan engine with the same basic engine architecture that currently powers all modern commercial aircraft. Unlike subsonic turbofans, this new propulsion system will include a Boom-designed axisymmetric supersonic intake, a variable-geometry low-noise exhaust nozzle, and a passively cooled high-pressure turbine.
Engine design features to include:
- Architecture: twin-spool, medium-bypass turbofan engine, no afterburner
- Thrust: 35,000lbs at takeoff
- Fuel: optimized for 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel
- Single-stage fan designed for quiet operation
- Passively cooled high-pressure turbine
- Additive manufacturing for low weight, low part count, and reduced assembly costs
- Certification: Compliant with FAA and EASA Part 33 requirements
For more information, please visit www.boomsupersonic.com.
About Kratos Defense & Security Solutions
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:KTOS) develops and fields transformative, affordable technology, platforms and systems for United States National Security related customers, allies and commercial enterprises. Kratos is changing the way breakthrough technology for these industries are rapidly brought to market through proven commercial and venture capital backed approaches, including proactive research and streamlined development processes. At Kratos, affordability is a technology and we specialize in unmanned systems, satellite communications, cyber security/warfare, microwave electronics, missile defense, hypersonic systems, training, combat systems and next generation turbo jet and turbo fan engine development. For more information go to www.KratosDefense.com.
Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are made on the basis of the current beliefs, expectations and assumptions of the management of Kratos and are subject to significant risks and uncertainty. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. All such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and Kratos undertakes no obligation to update or revise these statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Although Kratos believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, these statements involve many risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from what may be expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements. For a further discussion of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to the business of Kratos in general, see the risk disclosures in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Kratos for the year ended December 26, 2021, and in subsequent reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K and other filings made with the SEC by Kratos.
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