HAL-AMCA 

Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (Development Name)

Project Status: Development & Design Phase

Manufacturer: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)

Origin: India

Role: Stealth-Super-maneuverable, Multi-Role Fighter

Project Cost: $1.5 - $2 billion plus USD (projected for 15-20 years of ongoing upgrade research and development)
Unit Cost: Unknown

First Flight: 2024 (expected)

Specifications

General Characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 55.25 ft (17.2m) 
• Wing Span: 38 ft (11.8m)
• Weight: 14,000 kg to 24,000 kg (depending on loaded equipment)

Performance:(expectation as its still in development Phase)

• Max Speed: > 1,650 miles/Hour (Mach 2.5 +)
• Power Plant: K10 After-burning turbo fan (Joint Venture with various Companies)
• Service Ceiling: 50,000 ft - 60,000 ft 
• Primary Weaponry: 30mm GSH-301 Canon, 4 Air to Air Missiles ( ASTRA, DERBY, Python-5, R-73), 2 Bombs (Lazer Guided & Gravity),

Summary

The HAL Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) is a fifth-generation fighter aircraft. It is being developed by an aerospace industry team which consists of the Aeronautical Development Agency as the design firm with manufacturing carried out by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) as the primary contractor and main assembly firm. Went into development 2008. The Indian Navy will also be seeking a naval variant optimized for operation from their aircraft carriers.Expected first flight is to occur in 2024.

It is a multirole combat aircraft, a single-seat, twin-engine, stealth super-maneuverable all weather condition. Designed for the air superiority, ground attack, bombing, intercepting, strike. It combines supercruise,stealth, advanced AESA radar, supermaneuverability, and advanced avionics to overcome and suppress previous generation fighter aircraft along with many ground and maritime defenses. It is meant to be the competitor of the JSF (F-35) and set to replace the Migs and Mirage fighter Jets.

Gallery

Computer Artist Concept

                             

Small Scale Model

F-35 Lightning II (JSF Program)

F-35 Lightning II

Project Status: In initial production and testing

Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin

Origin: United States

Role: Stealth Multi-Role Fighter

Project Cost: $800 billion plus (projected for 55 years of ongoing upgrade research and development)
Unit Cost: $150 million to $200 million 

Specifications

General Characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 51.4 ft (15.7m) 
• Wing Span: 35 ft (10.7m)
• Weight: 13,000 kg to 22,000 kg (depending on loaded equipment)

Performance:

• Max Speed: >1,200 miles/Hour (Mach 1 - 2)
• Power Plant: Pratt & Whitney After-burning turbo fan
• Service Ceiling: 40,000 ft - 60,000 ft (43,000 ft tested)
• Primary Weaponry: 25mm Gaitling Gun, 4 Air to Air Missiles ( AIM-120-AMRAAM, AIM-9X Sidewinder, IRIS-T, MBDA-Meteor), 2 Anti-Ship Missiles (JSM, LRASM), 

Summary

The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is of single-seat, single-engine, fifth-generation mult-irole fighter in development to perform ground attack, reconnaissance, and air defense missions with stealth capability similar to the F-22 Raptor. The F-35 has three main models; the F-35A is a conventional takeoff and landing variant, the F-35B is a short take-off and vertical-landing variant, and the F-35C is a carrier-based variant.

The F-35 is the product of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. It is being designed and built by an aerospace industry team led by Lockheed Martin. Other major F-35 industry partners include Northrop Grumman (electronics) , Pratt & Whitney and BAE Systems (engine and power train). 

The F-35 took its first flight on 15 December 2006. The United States plans to buy 2,443 aircraft. The F-35 variants are intended to provide the bulk of its manned tactical air power for the U.S. Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy over the coming decades. Deliveries of the F-35 for the U.S. military are to be started from late next year (2015) and to be completed in 2037.

F-35 JSF development is being principally funded by the United States with additional funding from partners. The partner nations are either NATO members or close U.S. allies with Royal Australian Air force being the first on the list outside US to take interest in this project. The United Kingdom, Israel, Italy, Australia, Canada, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Turkey are part of the active development program; Japan has ordered the F-35, while Singapore may also equip their air force with the F-35. South Korea decided to purchase F-35s in late 2013

Gallery

F-35 vertical landing/Take off test

Helmet Mounted HUD Display

F-35 re-fueling testing

SR-91/Aurora (Rumored Stealth Jet)

SR-91/Aurora (stealth jet)

Project Status: Unknown (rumored to be retired)

Manufacturer: Lockheed/USAF (rumored)

Origin: United States

Role: Reconnaissance/Demonstrator (rumored)

Project Cost: Classified ($1 Billion to $9 Billion rumored)

Specifications

General Characteristics

• Crew: 2-3
• Length: 60 ft (20m) (Estimated)
• Weight: Unknown

Performance:

• Max Speed: >3000 miles/Hour (Mach 5-6)
• Power Plant: Unknown (Liquid Methane fuel - Lockheed Prototype Rumored)
• Service Ceiling: 80,000 ft - 90,000 ft (rumored)
• Weaponry: Rail-gun (rumored)

Summary

Other background details on this project are outlined in the following link(s) which some information has been used to summarise and build this blog post: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurora_aircraft

The SR-91 was a rumored mid 1980's American Reconnaissance There is no substantial evidence that this project was ever built but enough evidence to tell that there was a such project. US government has denied that a project ever existed and Lockheed has outlined all evidence is just "circumstantial and conjecture". 

However through out the years and decades gone by Ex-high profile military personnel have 'supposedly' leaked information regarding such project & recently through the vast power of the world wide web recent astonishing images of and unusual aircraft has emerged with being rumored as the SR-91.

Gallery

Apparent SR-91

SR-91/Aurora

Image From the 1980's which raised questions
on the strange triangular aircraft, taken days after official disregard such SR-91 exists

Boeing X-51A (hypersonic Aircraft)

Boeing X-51A

Project Status: Testing (Open-Secret/Limited public knowledge)

Manufacturer: Boeing/USAF/NASA

Origin: United States

Role: Used for future High Speed Strike Weapon Tech applications/Hyper-sonic Transport

Project Cost: Classified ($300M rumored)

Specifications

General Characteristics

• Crew: none
• Length: 25 ft (7.62 m)
• Weight: 4000 lb (1,814 kg)

Performance

• Max Speed: >3,900 miles/Hour (>6,200 km/h)
• Power Plant:  Engine SJX61-2 (Mach 5-6), Hydrogen Chamber
• Service Ceiling: 70,000 ft (21,300 m)

Summary

The following is the link providing in detail of the 

project :http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_X-51

The X-51A is an unmanned scram-jet demonstration aircraft for hyper-sonic flight testing. the airforce has been in development of a hyper-sonic propulsion device since the 1990's. Only recently it has reached the stage of flight testing due to advancement in technology. First successful flight was in 26th May 2010. On 1st May 2013 the aircraft flew for 300 sec in hyper-sonic speed. The X-51A uses shockwaves to add lift and speed. The technology will be used to provide applications in High Speed Missiles, Hyper-sonic Travel & Space Travel.

Gallery 

X-51A , May 2010

X-51A, May 2013

Boeing's early concept designs of the X-51A

Boeing 2707- SST (Canceled MegaProject)

Boeing 2707-SST

Project Status: Canceled 

Manufacturer: Boeing Commercial Planes

Origin: United States

Role: Supersonic Transport (SST)

Specifications

General Characteristics 

• Capacity: 277 Passengers
• Payload: 75,000 lbs [34,000 kg]
• Length: 306 ft (93.27m)
• Wing-Span: 180 ft (54m) Spread, 105 ft (32m) swept

Performance

• Cruise Speed: Mach 2.7, 1,800 miles/hour (2,900 km/h)
• PowerPlant: 4 x General Electric GE4/J5P Turbo Jets 
• Engines Thrust: 281 kN (testing labs)

Why was this Project Canceled?

The following is the link in detail of project & why it was canceled: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_2707

Summary of reasons why it was canceled:

• Environmental Concerns - opposition to such project was becoming very vocal especially from the environmental lobbyist. voicing concerns over the depletion of the ozone layer due to high altitude flights, and noise concerns relating to sonic booms over residential areas.
• Govt. Funding Cut/Rising Costs - Despite strong support from the Nixon administration the senate rejected further funding. Even with public contribution of $1 Million, the project could not continue. The Vietnam war had a strong factor in this.

Gallery

TurboJets Being Built

Concept Model of the 2707

Early Concept Design of the 2707