(Washington, D.C.) Why do available renderings of 6th-Gen fighter aircraft and helicopters show fewer vertical structures, blended wing-body structures, fins or protruding configurations? Are there ways scientists, engineers and expert weapons developers are uncovering new aerodynamic developments likely to improve aircraft design configurations to massively enhance performance?
Stealth Fighter Jets
While of course specifics regarding new aerodynamic design configuration for future stealth fighter jets or helicopters are likely not available for obvious security reasons, there is some cutting edge aerodynamic research going on with academia and the Army Research Office to explore a new generation of innovations able to greatly improve aerodynamic performance for future aircraft.
Certainly a more horizontal looking 6th-Gen fighter jet, absent protruding structures such as tailfins, weapons pylons or a sharply angled fuselage structures would make an aircraft stealthier, as electromagnetic pings would have less shapes to bounce off and therefore be less likely to produce an accurate rendering.
Fewer extended external structures and blended wing-body configurations all naturally improve stealth performance characteristics, so perhaps engineers have discovered ways to turn, maneuver, vector or operate in the air without needing as many tailfins or distinctly separated wing structures? What are some of the technical factors making these kinds of aerodynamic improvements possible? Breakthroughs in the area of aerodynamics related to “boundary layer,” or “air flow” management.
Future Vertical Lift Aircraft
Many of these same principles apply equally to ongoing Army efforts to design, engineer and research possibilities for new helicopter designs and continue to upgrade its most cutting edge Future Vertical Lift aircraft.
Certainly available Future Vertical Lift prototypes from both Bell Helicopter and Lockheed-Sikorsky-Boeing appear engineered to generate a low radar signature by virtue of their respective configurations. Much of this likely pertains to evolving advances in aerodynamic designs.
Aerodynamics
When fast-moving vortices, or “masses of whirling air” collide, large amounts of turbulence can be generated, often sufficient to fully derail intended aerial maneuvers. Managing these collisions between masses of air flow is a factor in aerodynamic aircraft design, as structures such as wings or fins placed in a particular area in a particular shape, can help an aircraft “vector” effectively.
