The race to field the most powerful stealth fighter engines in history

Huge thanks to AirCorps Aviation for sponsoring today's video! Make sure to go to www.aircorpsaviation.com/care... to join their team today!
-break-
(Yeah... I accidentally said J85 rather than J58 in the beginning!)
Despite a popular focus on stealth - and to a lesser extent, data fusion - in today’s fighters, America’s turbofan advantage is truly just as valuable, setting American fighters apart through a combination of high power output and carefully crafted radar and infrared detection mitigation.
In 2023, both Russian and Chinese stealth fighter programs took a big step toward closing the capability gap with America’s 5th-generation jets, finally marrying their low-observable airframes to higher-powered engines purpose-built for stealth applications.
Let's talk about what this means, and how the US is responding.
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Citations:
www.janes.com/defence-news/ne...
www.airandspaceforces.com/art...
academic-accelerator.com/ency...
www.airandspaceforces.com/art...
www.forbes.com/sites/lorentho...
ia804703.us.archive.org/16/it...
military-blog.com/al-41f1-eng...
www.globalsecurity.org/milita...
bulgarianmilitary.com/2023/11...
aviationweek.com/defense-spac...
www.geaerospace.com/propulsio...
breakingdefense.com/2023/11/a...
www.ge.com/news/reports/the-s...
www.airandspaceforces.com/ge-...
nationalinterest.org/blog/reb...

Пікірлер: 744

  • @everettputerbaugh3996
    @everettputerbaugh39963 ай бұрын

    TheJ-58 pushing the SR-71 were not only powerful high altitude adaptive cycle engines, they also were huge.. about the size of a Phantom II fuselage. They were designed to use a fuel that also worked as air-frame coolant and hydraulic fluid because neither system could handle the heat in a closed system. To an engineering student in the late 50's and early 60's, it must have looked like alien technology acquired from a crashed spaceship.

  • @vanguard9067

    @vanguard9067

    3 ай бұрын

    Really intelligent comment. Thank you for providing this valuable information. I am sure your last sentence is accurate too. Have a great day.

  • @nomercyinc6783

    @nomercyinc6783

    3 ай бұрын

    and nothing about the engines themselves were stealth. how they were mounted was tho

  • @robertcunanan3501

    @robertcunanan3501

    3 ай бұрын

    A❤❤p

  • @Sajuuk

    @Sajuuk

    3 ай бұрын

    Maybe it was 😉

  • @josephsmith6777

    @josephsmith6777

    2 ай бұрын

    Ya no other plain in history looks like it besides the a 12 and variants of them both

  • @chrisgraythereal
    @chrisgraythereal3 ай бұрын

    I normally skip through the sponsored bit, but this time I actually scrolled back to find out what you were talking about. That was fascinating! Good choice of sponsor!

  • @noborderssports5434

    @noborderssports5434

    3 ай бұрын

    Right!

  • @LukeBunyip

    @LukeBunyip

    3 ай бұрын

    Niche audience targeting done well

  • @extragoogleaccount6061

    @extragoogleaccount6061

    3 ай бұрын

    One of the few times someone said "this sponsor is really cool" and were understated! Also cool that that company knew to get their word out here.

  • @TapleyBS

    @TapleyBS

    3 ай бұрын

    With that kind of work I wonder if they have a hard time enforcing a 4 day work week. “Gee I’ll just pop in today and play around with the P-47 …”

  • @marsbound2024
    @marsbound20243 ай бұрын

    Alex, thanks so much for your video! I was surprised (pleasantly so) to see you get a sponsor that is basically offering a job opportunity instead of the countless sales pitches we often get from other channels. Also, it's on point with what this channel is about. Really high quality channel here and you do fantastic journalism.

  • @robertbohnaker9898

    @robertbohnaker9898

    3 ай бұрын

    Talk is cheap; money is hard to come by😂

  • @icaleinns6233

    @icaleinns6233

    3 ай бұрын

    Hell, I even watched the ad for a change!

  • @Hyposonic
    @Hyposonic3 ай бұрын

    One of the most important improvements in the new engines is their electrical output, critical for the overall aircraft.

  • @Sajuuk

    @Sajuuk

    3 ай бұрын

    Critical to power laser weapons too.

  • @atlanta_greg_7612

    @atlanta_greg_7612

    3 ай бұрын

    my initial thoughts as well..

  • @jacobbaumgardner3406

    @jacobbaumgardner3406

    3 ай бұрын

    @@Sajuukyes, but more importantly more powerful computers and sensors, like more powerful radars and passive multispectral systems.

  • @jj4791

    @jj4791

    3 ай бұрын

    All of that extra power is for ECM. These things make legacy AWACS obsolete.

  • @chrissmith7669

    @chrissmith7669

    3 ай бұрын

    Actually the struggle is to get enough cooling power for all those toasty warm avionics systems. Can’t enable block IV without the improved cooling.

  • @vincetheboxingdude08
    @vincetheboxingdude083 ай бұрын

    10:50 that's cleveland. I was there that day to take photos. If you haven't seen a f22 demo in person I HIGHLY recommend it! Seeing it on video dose it no justice. Watching the maneuvers, feeling the power of those engines reverberate through everything, and even setting of car alarms everywhere. It was hard to focus and take my pictures. I was literally in awe that our country could create such a thing. I've been to tons of air shows. I've NEVER seen anything like that.

  • @petric334
    @petric3343 ай бұрын

    Was about to ff through the sponsor part but then I was like hey that's actually pretty cool

  • @BadDadio
    @BadDadio3 ай бұрын

    The F119 engine is phenomenal. Powerful, dependable, and easy to work on.

  • @NationChosenByGod

    @NationChosenByGod

    3 ай бұрын

    Currently, the most powerful engine until adaptive cycle engines come out.

  • @guitar7279

    @guitar7279

    3 ай бұрын

    F135 and WS15 are more powerful actually (because theyre newer obviously)​@NationChosenByGod

  • @unknown..38

    @unknown..38

    3 ай бұрын

    keep chinese out from this lists there engines are just reverse engineered Soviets al31 engines f119 has 3LP &just 6HP stages the reverse engineered Chinese engines have 8HP stages & 4LP stages. Just like al31 &it's other variants which they reverse engineered there aircraft cannot takeoff with full payload & fuel from high altitude bases like in Tibet there runways are literally 5km because without so so long runways it cannot takeoff @lolguitar7279

  • @mikebridges20
    @mikebridges203 ай бұрын

    Alex, while this segment on the Adaptive Cycle engine was interesting (especially the update from GE), the sponsor take was outstanding. I think it's the first time I've seen a sponsor that was looking for something other than the sale of its products (which isn't a bad thing, but this is unique). Who woulda thunk that a sponsor ad would generate positive comments?

  • @themanfromjupiter910
    @themanfromjupiter9103 ай бұрын

    The first ever sponsor segment I did not skip over. Air Corps Aviation does good things

  • @strikercwl
    @strikercwl3 ай бұрын

    I always wondered why supercruise was considered 1.5 and not anything over 1.0, thanks for that explanation.

  • @chrissmith7669

    @chrissmith7669

    3 ай бұрын

    It has to do with the drag. After Mach 1 the shock changes and leaves a drag bucket.

  • @jj4791

    @jj4791

    3 ай бұрын

    At mach 1.0 there is a lot going on, transonic trad rise is very real. See any graph showing drag vs mach. The F-16 can super-cruise around Mach 1.0 at 20,000AGL without external stores.

  • @appa609

    @appa609

    3 ай бұрын

    Supercruise is a marketing term. It once meant >M1 dry, but then they raised it to M1.2 to cut out stuff like clean F-15's/F-16's, and now LMT is pushing M1.5 mostly to exclude the European 4.5 gens that cruise from 1.2-1.5. The F-22 has by far the fastest supercruise of any fighter at M1.78

  • @chrissmith7669

    @chrissmith7669

    3 ай бұрын

    @@appa609 nobody would supercruise below M1.2. The trans sonic drag is to high.

  • @jacobbaumgardner3406

    @jacobbaumgardner3406

    3 ай бұрын

    @@appa609most of the european fighter. the Typhoon is Mach 1.5+ publicly, which is also the F-22's public supercruise number, 1.5+. It's rumored that the F-22 can go 1.78, but it's also rumored by pilots that the Typhoon can exceed Mach 1.6, so it's all hearsay.

  • @Nathan-ng1jt
    @Nathan-ng1jt3 ай бұрын

    Great content thank you. The SU57 seems to be invisible as nobody has seen one combat ready.

  • @OrtadragoonX

    @OrtadragoonX

    3 ай бұрын

    There’s like ten in existence. Russia doesn’t want to risk them.

  • @teejin669

    @teejin669

    3 ай бұрын

    ​@OrtadragoonX there are like 10 they say exist. They don't risk people find out they really don't. (You are right tho)

  • @williamzk9083

    @williamzk9083

    3 ай бұрын

    -It took the US 20+ years to get the F-35 working. I think we can expect the Su-57 within 2-3 years. It's already taken to the air with new 5th generation engines and 2D stealthy nozzles. Stealth coatings will be applied and a new stealthy photonic radar that uses super fast optical signal processing for the front end is also testing already. The aircraft has a huge internal fuel capability and very large internal weapons bays much larger than the F-35 and F-22. The new engine uses plasma ignition and should have a very wide operation range in terms or restart ability. -The aircraft clearly has a stealthy shape. It is rhomboid when viewed from the front and all of the leading edges of the wings and tail fins are aligned. The only non stealthy portion is the small double delta area. -It probably wont be as stealthy as the F-22 but it will be close enough to stealthy to cause problems. The long wavelength leading edge radars the Russians developed for the Su-35 will be in the Su-57 and will detect stealthy aircraft. They'll be quite accurate if 2 Su-57 integrate viewsd from 2 directions. -Don't make the mistake of underestimating the Russians or you will be in for a nasty surprise.

  • @GM-fh5jp

    @GM-fh5jp

    3 ай бұрын

    LOL...yeah like their "unbeatable" T14 Armata tank right?@@williamzk9083 Sounds like you've been gulping from Putin's water bottle, mate. Their fighters got swatted out of the sky by Stinger manpads and Patriot interceptors being operated by under trained troops. The SU 57 has been assesed by researchers with a lot more credibility than you and the consensus is that the SU lifting body and tail/engine exposed surfaces have a radar RCS approximately the same as a 4th gen F-18 Hornet in a clean configuration.So much for your "stealth".

  • @zorbakaput8537

    @zorbakaput8537

    3 ай бұрын

    @@williamzk9083 Troll alert - Do you actually have any idea what you are claiming? 20+ years to get the F35 working? Immediately stop smoking whatever it is you're inhaling.

  • @user-sb6fo9yg4v
    @user-sb6fo9yg4v3 ай бұрын

    Just wanted to say: I love your show and the energy, knowledge, and delivery you bring to it!

  • @ShadowOppsRC
    @ShadowOppsRC3 ай бұрын

    FYI sr71 engines are J58s and not J85s but thats okay the newer engines do produce more thrust. Not trying to be rude or be a snaught @Sandbox. You do great work and people will destroy you over little details in todays world.

  • @brianhillier7052

    @brianhillier7052

    3 ай бұрын

    lol oopsies

  • @marcalvarez4890

    @marcalvarez4890

    3 ай бұрын

    I THOUGHT that sounded funny. Thanks for the clarification

  • @SandboxxApp

    @SandboxxApp

    3 ай бұрын

    You’re not wrong! I actually included a note in the description about that J58/85 mixup because I caught it too late to fix. Appreciate you looking out!

  • @brianhillier7052

    @brianhillier7052

    3 ай бұрын

    we know what you meant . and i applaud your usual accuracy but that human element thing slips out every now and then. haha@@SandboxxApp

  • @TylerSmithMusic1
    @TylerSmithMusic13 ай бұрын

    I hope to see a documentary of all the F22 capabilities and its use in real world missions we don’t know about in my lifetime. Truly unmatched and it’s a shame it’s to expensive to maintain and keep in service.

  • @sberry80
    @sberry803 ай бұрын

    You know it's gonna be a good night when you hear "I'M ALEX HOLLINGS, AND THIS IS AIRPOWER". I LOVE IT. Keep up the good work and GREAT VIDEO'S

  • @whyem516H
    @whyem516H3 ай бұрын

    I have been in the industry for 25 years and I can say without a doubt, @alexhollings is among the best presenters and reporters on combat aviation technology today. Like Chris Pocock and Bill Sweetman.

  • @kindnuguz
    @kindnuguz3 ай бұрын

    Holy shit that was the best advertisement I've seen in a long time, fits in perfectly with the channel and a good chance many watching could be a candidate.

  • @specrtre
    @specrtre3 ай бұрын

    Bro.. I'm an avation MOS in the Army. I really wish i was in Minnesota now instead to work for that company. Talk about a dream job

  • @bryonslatten3147
    @bryonslatten31473 ай бұрын

    0:18 OK, but the SR-71's J85s at afterburner only produced 15% of the total thrust. The ramjets produced the other 85%.

  • @unclefart5527
    @unclefart55273 ай бұрын

    Still like to see what would have become of the General Electric/Rolls-Royce F136 engine in the F-35.

  • @ShadowOppsRC

    @ShadowOppsRC

    3 ай бұрын

    Same here! Plus, competions alway drives for a better product and sometimes a better price but not always.

  • @morgatron4639

    @morgatron4639

    3 ай бұрын

    It's better not to have brand new engine tech in a single engine fighter. The tech in the F-35 engines was first tested and proven in the F-22 where there were two engines and the plane could likely still land if one failed. The DoD made the right choice going with a simpler Pratt&whitney upgrade on the the F-35, they have a great track record with reliability and we don't want to risk the readiness if our F-35 fleet. You'll be seeing the new adaptive engines in pairs on the new NGAD fighters once those come out.

  • @strykenine7902
    @strykenine79023 ай бұрын

    That is one heck of a sponsor! Sounds like a great opportunity for some lucky guy/gal.

  • @benjaminlynch9958

    @benjaminlynch9958

    3 ай бұрын

    For sure. Sounds like a great company and a great opportunity, but I’m also not surprised that they’re having to do ad spots on KZread to get qualified people to apply. As someone who’s been to Bemidji Minnesota, it’s a lovely small town a gazillion miles from anywhere. Would love to go back for a relaxing summer vacation, but I wouldn’t want to live there year round, particularly during northern Minnesota winters.

  • @flossordie2256
    @flossordie22563 ай бұрын

    I literally chuckled when you said acoustic detection. I live about 30 miles from a base where they f35s and I can hear when they're taking off.

  • @MichaelRoy-hc3lz
    @MichaelRoy-hc3lz3 ай бұрын

    Each bit of info on these new adaptive cycle engines is near voodoo in it's achievement. To improve thrust and range along with thermal management is incredible. I'd like to see a video on how the aerodynamics work on the sixth generation fighters since they are doing away with many standard control surfaces

  • @johndherzog
    @johndherzog3 ай бұрын

    The leap to 6th-gen fighters is like jumping into the future of aerial combat, blending AI, stealth tech, and mind-blowing connectivity. The US's NGAD and the international Tempest and FCAS projects are pioneering this frontier, promising a new era where jets are smarter, stealthier, and more interconnected than ever. It's not just about faster jets but reshaping air warfare with innovation at its core. Can't wait to see where this tech takes us and how it redefines air superiority!

  • @garymccann2960
    @garymccann29603 ай бұрын

    The rotationion detonation engines will be a huge leap.

  • @knowledgeiswealth.

    @knowledgeiswealth.

    3 ай бұрын

    Nah

  • @chrissmith7669

    @chrissmith7669

    3 ай бұрын

    The rotational detonation combuster will be a step change. Maybe 20% more efficient that’s huge. Do the same to the augmenter and you’re beyond anything anyone else has

  • @christopherkelley2061

    @christopherkelley2061

    3 ай бұрын

    I think rotating detonation is more of a future rocket engine technology than a jet engine technology. It's hard enough to get controlled detonation wave front when you control the oxidizer and fuel. And is so far only been demonstrated in test rigs and not in flight. But an air breathing engine isn't going going to get liquid oxygen and has to work with turbulent air with only 21% oxygen content. Is rotating detonation even possible with air breathing engines? I don't know. But if it is, we are probably decades away.

  • @chrissmith7669

    @chrissmith7669

    3 ай бұрын

    @@christopherkelley2061 it’s been demonstrated for use in engines. I was looking at a report a couple weeks ago that combined the test rig results with full engine simulations. Instead of losing several percent of the pressure due to the combuster flow restrictions they increased the pressure by close to 10%! That’s pretty much free compression without the corresponding temp rise.

  • @matsv201

    @matsv201

    3 ай бұрын

    Those engines are more for extreme altitude like 100 000 feet. I guess they could make a suborbital space fighter. But its not really the same as a gen 6 jet fighter.

  • @AnP865
    @AnP8653 ай бұрын

    14:27 that vertical to horizontal manoeuvre is crazy.

  • @CalvinMaclure
    @CalvinMaclure3 ай бұрын

    As an engineer, this was a most pleasing episode!

  • @joevaccaro6655
    @joevaccaro66553 ай бұрын

    I love the sound of the f22 and f35 engines, I seriously get a surge of energy. It must explain why the flight deck crew is amped in the opening scene of Top Gun.

  • @danielhahn2897
    @danielhahn28973 ай бұрын

    Perfect, Alex. I also had been perplexed that everyone is talking supercruise, but no one was talking how the engine's amazing dry thrust capability enable this. It is also important that GE's XA100 has more power AND more economy. Otherwise it would be like TRX and GT500 owners crying at the gas pump. (Edited after having coffee...)

  • @chadbernard2641
    @chadbernard26413 ай бұрын

    The AL-51F1 is the 5th generation engine serrated nozzles additional particles to reduce IR signature from nozzles into exhaust stream 3D TVC. 6th generation engine has the flat nozzles still years away.

  • @Condor1970
    @Condor19703 ай бұрын

    I couldn't help but laugh when he said "designed to mitigate acoustic detection". I wouldn't call the F135 an acoustically mitigated engine. 🤣

  • @ryankubinski8789

    @ryankubinski8789

    3 ай бұрын

    Facts

  • @sonicgoo1121

    @sonicgoo1121

    3 ай бұрын

    Having heard a few this summer, I was thinking the same. :)

  • @benaguilar1787

    @benaguilar1787

    3 ай бұрын

    It is pretty quiet until it passes over you, and then incredibly loud from the backside. But if you see the backside of a F-35 then you weren’t its target.

  • @Condor1970

    @Condor1970

    3 ай бұрын

    @@benaguilar1787 Most jets are pretty quiet as they approach. Especially the closer they are to going supersonic.

  • @giovannifontanetto9604

    @giovannifontanetto9604

    3 ай бұрын

    Maybe they would be even more sound intense if not designed for less sound

  • @Foresight-yy1ec
    @Foresight-yy1ec3 ай бұрын

    Informative, well-paced, and to the point. Well done. Subscribed.

  • @LloydGM
    @LloydGM3 ай бұрын

    Again, I appreciate your analysis along with collating the various related facts into a comprehensive package. Far out!

  • @nomar5spaulding
    @nomar5spaulding3 ай бұрын

    It always weirds me out when 2 KZreadrs I know that cover completely unrelated topics randomly use the same music in their videos. At the end of this, during the wrap up stage, I kept thinking, "Why is Aldas talking about fighter jet engines? Shouldn't he be talking about Lando Norris's extended contract with McLaren?"

  • @ronjon7942
    @ronjon79423 ай бұрын

    GE really did some massive upgrades to fit J85s into the Blackbird. A very secret and little known effort on their part. Equally impressive was the work done to fit the J58s into an F-5, although there was a bit of airframe modifications making two large engine bay humps in the aft end of the Tiger's fuselage. Ah, those darn, similar engine designations.

  • @liddz434
    @liddz4343 ай бұрын

    Another one knocked out of the park Alex! Keep up the great work mate 🤙🏾

  • @shanehayes6048
    @shanehayes60483 ай бұрын

    Another Great Job Alex. I found it informative and interesting. Thanks again.

  • @keithtarrier4558
    @keithtarrier45583 ай бұрын

    Damn!! these engines are crazy!! And thanks for explaining it so us mere mortals can fully understand it.

  • @Nathan-vt1jz
    @Nathan-vt1jz3 ай бұрын

    Excellent Video! I enjoy the deep dive into engine developments.

  • @jamesbannerman4804
    @jamesbannerman48043 ай бұрын

    Alex, no one covers aviation like you and Sandbox. As always, excellent video. Keep up the outstanding work.

  • @lossless4129
    @lossless41293 ай бұрын

    What I see drastically different between all three it seems like the body smoothness on the f22 is superior but idk they all look the part of sneaky stealth planes

  • @gorethegreat
    @gorethegreat3 ай бұрын

    I love your passion and presentation AH!! Superb channel

  • @waltergill8196
    @waltergill81963 ай бұрын

    WOW !! I watch your videos to try and get to keep up with the latest info . But you’ve given that and even explained in a manner that can be understood. 👍😎🇺🇸

  • @filippopotame3579
    @filippopotame35793 ай бұрын

    If the Air Force can field this engine alongside ceramic based stealth materials and tail-less design, the jet might be a leap forward in stealth tech comparable to the F22 or B2.

  • @marksanney2088
    @marksanney20883 ай бұрын

    Thank you again, my friend for another informative, interesting and enlightening video. 👍🏻🇺🇸🦅🇺🇸👍🏻. Always enjoy digesting your information regarding the advances in American, Russian and Chinese military aviation advancements.

  • @jamestaylor4988
    @jamestaylor49883 ай бұрын

    At 8:23 you went all turbo encabulator on us 😅

  • @DUKE_of_RAMBLE
    @DUKE_of_RAMBLE3 ай бұрын

    I'm LOVING the recent video release cadence! 😮 Please don't run yourself ragged, Alex... ♥️ _(and hell yea, a Minnesotan sponsor, for this Minnesotan born and raised boy! 🤘)_

  • @bgt54rfvcde32wsxzaq1
    @bgt54rfvcde32wsxzaq13 ай бұрын

    Always learn a lot from you. THANKS 😊

  • @glacieractivity
    @glacieractivity3 ай бұрын

    @sandbox - I'd like your insights on modern Russian/Chinese engine life expectancy under heavy load. If memory serves me right, their legacy engines had the unfortunate feature of starting to "self-weld" themselves when working hard. It is great to produce +30,000 lbs/ >100,000 kN of thrust but it is not logistically great if one must get new engines for every 10th sortie (as a tongue-in-cheek example).

  • @vanguard9067

    @vanguard9067

    3 ай бұрын

    If they self-weld, they are simply meeting their goal to minimize the number of parts requiring maintenance:-)

  • @gilbhedy1
    @gilbhedy13 ай бұрын

    just love this show....what energy!!!

  • @paullubliner6221
    @paullubliner62213 ай бұрын

    AS I have said many times before; MORE on P51's Alex! Too bad I'm too old to go and work for your advertiser in Minnesota. I was about to start on rebuilding a P51 of my own over 25 years ago with the help of (and offers of a "guaranteed rebuildable V1650-7" and other parts etc.) my friend Bill Speer (who'd rebuilt three) until he "went in" at Reno. I was going to design and produce the spar/landing gear pivot in billet magnesium, CNC'd on a 5 axis mill as there were no investment casting foundries capable of doing the job. Even with the "Lost Foam" approach. Also, why not do something on P47's and maybe even the "Ultra-Bolt": XP72 and how that would have done re: the Me 262.

  • @Gu1tarJohn
    @Gu1tarJohn3 ай бұрын

    Great vid as usual. This is how I like to start my weekend!

  • @teddeebayre3433
    @teddeebayre34333 ай бұрын

    Alex, thank for the great videos! I was a USAF flyboy and love your upcoming airpower information. Your the best in the business.

  • @mosescyrussolomon-wo6pu
    @mosescyrussolomon-wo6pu3 ай бұрын

    Big up to you man, I’ve always liked your contents.

  • @MrCateagle
    @MrCateagle3 ай бұрын

    B-2A's engine is an amalgam of F101, F110, and CFM56 parts (all members of the same basic family) with certain parts specific to the F118.

  • @_Coffee4Closers
    @_Coffee4Closers3 ай бұрын

    The problem with claims by both China and Russia when it come to modern jet engines is that they still lack the capability to EDM drill the 8 or 10 mil cooling holes and then laser ablate an equally tiny diffuser on top of that hole hundreds of times on a super allow turbine blade with a complicated internal serpentine to trailing edge configuration. Even doing this in a lab is hard enough and then taking it to a mass production environment is extremely difficult. I know for a fact that the WS10 had a military power life cycle of less than 10 hours, and is therefore highly "derated" (operating at a lowered firing temperature) to actually use it on their planes. What this means is that they are limited in the true power they can use for these aircraft in everyday use and training. To use the engine at it's full power will mean shortening it's life cycle to tens of hours before needing to re-aero the turbine. The WS15 is not a great leap over the WS10, and still has the same problems with cooling at higher power. In a conflict China would likely find it's self in a supply chain nightmare as they would not be able to maintain their fleet. Western engines are measures in the many thousands of hours not tens of hours... I would warn against just looking at posted specs about "thrust", as this is only one tiny part of the issue. If you can only maintain that aggressive level of power for a short time on wing before your turbine is burned up then you will soon be worn down. Combat will do that in short order.

  • @shutupanddrink3960

    @shutupanddrink3960

    3 ай бұрын

    Don't worry china taking notes

  • @josephbucknavage6739

    @josephbucknavage6739

    3 ай бұрын

    I worked in the casting of jet aircraft blades and vanes and rarely got to see the finished parts except for customer returns. In the shipping dept, I got to see some of our parts that were finished by other companies and was quite impressed with the ceramic coatings and leading-edge work(all the precise holes). Over the thrty plus years I worked I saw the plant go from solid equiax blades and vanes, DS directionally solidified and finally SC single crystal. Single crystal, I think, is where the longjevity of or cuurent engines arises. They're expensive due to the scrap rate while the mold design is perfected for each part. Any change to a part requires a whole re-evaluation of mold (wax setup) monoshell formulation and vacuum casting instructions. Now GE has thrown a lot of that out with a composite laminating process where nickel alloys aren't even used in many parts. The engine that GE proposed as the replacement for the F-35 uses composite parts. GE's technology is so new that the military decided to save it for the next generation fighter ( which like the F-22 probably won't be shared). Like you stated, there's more to jet engines than any one process or part.

  • @_Coffee4Closers

    @_Coffee4Closers

    3 ай бұрын

    @@josephbucknavage6739 Yes, modern turbine blades are high tech manufacturing wonders of Engineering, design, metallurgy, and cooling. Being from that World I know you understand how protected these Export Controlled and ITAR processes are. I was with both both of the "Big Two" Engine companies as a Design Engineer for both Military and Commercial engines for 30 years. You stated the process pretty well, Wax Mold, Casting, Grinding, Machining, Drilling, Laser Ablating, diffusion coating, ceramic coating... on and on and on. This is NOT easy stuff to mass produce and takes a lot of high tech manufacturing and very skilled Machinists. It is more of a high tech lab than a "machine shop". China nor Russia are there yet, and the new 3-Stream designs from both P&W and GE will be yet another leap. Also, GE has just made some major progress with "Rotating detonation combustors" (RDC) that will soon be yet another major leap.

  • @_Coffee4Closers

    @_Coffee4Closers

    3 ай бұрын

    @@shutupanddrink3960 It will take a hell of a lot more than notes...

  • @elijahcorbie2471

    @elijahcorbie2471

    3 ай бұрын

    @@_Coffee4ClosersHow long will it take china and Russia to get there then if they are not.

  • @larryjscott
    @larryjscott3 ай бұрын

    The best episode you have ever produced. Well done.

  • @RAYROTHSTEIN66
    @RAYROTHSTEIN663 ай бұрын

    And btw, I heard that GE only achieved those stats by running them at much higher tempature, and they are burning up internals.

  • @smilie2815
    @smilie28153 ай бұрын

    Good stuff. Can’t wait for the NGAD

  • @Mstangman70
    @Mstangman703 ай бұрын

    Alex has been killin' it lately!

  • @looseygoosey1349
    @looseygoosey13493 ай бұрын

    Good video man I really enjoyed it. Im interested to see the capabilities of this engine in action.

  • @Mike-tq7nz
    @Mike-tq7nz3 ай бұрын

    Alex, your channel always rocks. God bless America❤️🙏🇺🇸

  • @brianhillier7052
    @brianhillier70523 ай бұрын

    thankyou ALEX i don't miss any of your videos

  • @randalsteen230
    @randalsteen2303 ай бұрын

    Great video but Alex, could you produce more content on directed energy weapons and their application to aircraft? Thanks bro.

  • @karlstathakis7786
    @karlstathakis77863 ай бұрын

    Excellent survey of history and the competition -- but I'd have liked to see a bigger focus on AETP.

  • @jnellie1970
    @jnellie19703 ай бұрын

    Excellent content as usual. Thank you. I would love to hear about tech beyond the next “beyond”. What is out there that’s next, next level of propulsion? Like, are we capable of creating non-turbo fan tech? Something completely “out there”. Something that it’s supposed to exist yet?

  • @craigkdillon

    @craigkdillon

    3 ай бұрын

    kzread.info/dash/bejne/X5itzdylaa7Hlpc.html&ab_channel=Hermeus

  • @Cyrribrae

    @Cyrribrae

    3 ай бұрын

    I think they've done several of these videos already. Lots of stuff on hypersonics. Detonation engines. Etc?

  • @craigkdillon

    @craigkdillon

    3 ай бұрын

    @@Cyrribrae Yes. Lot of videos. I do find Hermeus to be very interesting.

  • @Nediac800
    @Nediac8003 ай бұрын

    Pretty interesting to have a sponsor searching to hire people. I’m interested to know how well that works

  • @lordquintus1419
    @lordquintus14193 ай бұрын

    Absolutely love the new intro, hype as hell!

  • @MattHuey
    @MattHuey3 ай бұрын

    Finally, a longer than 5 minute video!!😂😂i enjoy learning about aircrafts from you! Love too see vids on different jets!!💯🙌

  • @CharlieBass5
    @CharlieBass53 ай бұрын

    Keep it rolling Alex!

  • @FirstArchon
    @FirstArchon3 ай бұрын

    i don't think i've ever seen a video less than an hour after it was posted b4

  • @jimiraybeckton
    @jimiraybeckton3 ай бұрын

    I live in the Cincinnati area, and I actually work at GE Aviation. I was lucky enough to get to work on one of the prototypes of the AETP engine program, which is the XA100. So obviously I’m a little biased, but our engines are just far superior in performance compared to anything on the market. Sure, that kind of performance isn’t cheap, but those extra dollars will save lives and win wars! Another great video, and I can’t wait for the next one ✌🏼

  • @jj4791

    @jj4791

    3 ай бұрын

    GE has that level of refinement. They always take a decade too long to beat Pratt & Whitney. But they sit back and improve on the P&W designs and come in to take their sales in the latter half of the program. P&W does things nobody else wants to try. They are on the bleeding edge of technology and GE can't compete in that area. From the J-58 to the most recent successful SCRAMJET engines. P&W is the leader in technological leaps.

  • @chrissmith7669

    @chrissmith7669

    3 ай бұрын

    The only reason they lost out was they couldn’t guarantee a STOVL variant and the pentagon wouldn’t commit without it.

  • @jimiraybeckton

    @jimiraybeckton

    3 ай бұрын

    @@jj4791 well I’d clearly disagree ha. Even this very video mentioned our adaptive cycle capability being successful far before they were even close. Adaptive cycle technology is certainly what most would consider an advancement, with ours being ahead of the competition. But to each their own I suppose!

  • @lieutenantamerica11

    @lieutenantamerica11

    3 ай бұрын

    @@jj4791 Very well stated and the absolute truth based on personal military flying and civilian engineering experience. Given that, the U.S. Military needs to preserve all of its aircraft engine industrial base for a highly likely World War III. The ability to produce fourth, fifth, and sixth generation engines and their associated aircraft generations will be crucial to the U.S. win. In Thrust We Trust!

  • @LAXERJK
    @LAXERJK3 ай бұрын

    Pratt is doing some exciting things as of late.

  • @nateferguson4612
    @nateferguson46123 ай бұрын

    I eat this s**t up! Love it and please, keep ‘em coming, Alex!

  • @lqr824
    @lqr8243 ай бұрын

    I've never said this before in my 44 years on the internet (yes, 1979) but: VERY COOL SPONSOR. If I were 35 years younger I'd be clicking that link already.

  • @RobertReg1
    @RobertReg13 ай бұрын

    Nice vid, good perspective

  • @manuel969
    @manuel9693 ай бұрын

    F22 Raptor P&W F119: 116 KN; 160 KN with afterburner. F 35 Lightning II P&W F135: 125 KN; 191 KN with afterburner. J 20 Mighty Dragon WS 15: 107 KN; 187 KN with afterburner. Su 57 Felon AL 51F1: 108 KN; 177 KN with afterburner. Powerful engines

  • @ryanhannapel1830
    @ryanhannapel18303 ай бұрын

    Hey I enjoy that you change up your intro music nice 👍

  • @chrisspulis1599
    @chrisspulis15993 ай бұрын

    Great job mate.

  • @RagsDCS
    @RagsDCS3 ай бұрын

    Hey Alex! Very well done. Well done my friend 👊😎 You know Alex, there were some inside conversations during the YF-22 and 23, particularly considering the power plants. The setup for the YF23 was well understood that super Cruise even with the weight penalty as you call it. Well exceeded the now F-22. When the military magazine I forget the name of it. But what happened? There was a low hanging compartment in the center of the YF-23 Black widow / gray ghost. The magazine named it the black widow cuz of the way that the warning paint looked at. Angels 10. Go figure. I wish you were able to put the TWR on the YF 23 engine. I don't believe that they have publicized it yet. But with the low to no heat signature setup of that particular aircraft y of 23 that is. Heat tiles. Also, they were going to put kennards on the end of the main wings for maneuverability as such as the 20° that the raptor has. When the military magazine named it, it really upset some of the DOD top brass that fell under the same routine of the F-16 fighting falcon aka viper. Wonder if you have the numbers for the wife 23 engine? Deeply appreciate it 🕊️

  • @geoffreywardle2162
    @geoffreywardle21623 ай бұрын

    Good video presentation. I have quite a few public domain papers on the US adaptive cycle engines, and it's always interesting to know where the Chinese and Russians are up to this area.

  • @matthewkern3619
    @matthewkern36193 ай бұрын

    The j58 was rated for ground dry power. Spike/bypass power was not included.

  • @genebaket
    @genebaket3 ай бұрын

    As usual, you hit it out of the park. Good job, Alex.

  • @bobbell6907
    @bobbell69073 ай бұрын

    Alex, Great video ! But I believe the SR-71 ( which should have been labeled RS-71 ) The engine was a J 58 not 85

  • @44R0Ndin
    @44R0Ndin3 ай бұрын

    I have a (perhaps naive) question: With these new "adaptive cycle" engines, will fighter aircraft even need afterburners anymore? Or is the "high burning" mode of the engine itself going to take over the function of the afterburner? After all, the afterburner can only burn fuel with oxygen that hasn't already been used to burn fuel inside the engine itself, which is part of why afterburners pair so well with turboFANS and not turboJETs. But if you can make the thing act more like a turbojet and less like a turbofan, or vice versa, on demand, it seems that the potential for greater overall performance is made available, without having to resort to the drastic fuel burn increase of an afterburner.

  • @dpedd12
    @dpedd123 ай бұрын

    All we gotta do to predict their new engines features is figure out which western engine it’s ripped off from. And then take away %20 performance.

  • @cruisinguy6024

    @cruisinguy6024

    3 ай бұрын

    100%

  • @JBr-pk7wu

    @JBr-pk7wu

    3 ай бұрын

    This is the thought process that has america falling behind. The international maths/physics/chemistry/biology/comp sci olympiads are dominated by china. MIT,HARVARD,STANDFORD,BERKLEY are also dominated by chinese students. Natures latest report shows out of the top ten STEM universities, 8 of them are from china with MIT and Max planck Institute, being the other two. All american high-tech companies are comprised of a large number of chinese/indian and other immigrants. The truth is china does not need to copy Western designs. There is an obvious and growing intelligence gap between the two countries. The sooner americans realise this and sort out their own educational/societal and political issues rather than constantly blaming and ridiculing other countries, the better. Uk 🇬🇧

  • @HoneyLaw1

    @HoneyLaw1

    3 ай бұрын

    ​​​@@JBr-pk7wu Well as long as they keep immigrating to our countries the gap doesn't matter. Why work in communist China and make less money, when your hardwork ethic will be heavily rewarded by the U.S private sector. But still you are 100% correct. The only reason they copy stuff is to catch up not because they are to dumb too make their own.

  • @OrtadragoonX

    @OrtadragoonX

    3 ай бұрын

    The AL-31 is an in house design. It’s actually really old. It came out of the USSR during the 1980s; it was designed to power both next gen MiGs and Sukhois as well being an updated engine option for the Su-27 Flankers.

  • @ajaykumarsingh702

    @ajaykumarsingh702

    3 ай бұрын

    Not a good argument as West never sold it's aviation tech to Russian and China in mass. That's not enough to reverse engineer the tech exactly. The real strength of their airforce is self reliance.

  • @robertnelson3179
    @robertnelson31793 ай бұрын

    Checked out the repair restoration place to bad in Minnesota was trained as structural mechanic in marine corps love to get back involved in it. Thanks

  • @rafakenobi
    @rafakenobi3 ай бұрын

    Hello Alex, first I want to greet you from Colombia, I am a big fan of yours since the beginning and passionate about military aviation. You are one of few people who have something new to teach me and it would be great if you can explain why the F-35 engine having a higher thrust than other fighters its speed is lower (in clean). I guess its weight and aerodynamics are the answer but I would like to know from the technical aspects and what other things I am missing. Thanks in advance! Rafa

  • @toolmakerdave5287
    @toolmakerdave52873 ай бұрын

    OMG i've been a toolmaker/machinist for 40 years would love a job doing that. i'd pay them😁. a shame it's in Minnesota

  • @jajssblue
    @jajssblue3 ай бұрын

    I kinda wish the F-35s had gotten their engine upgrades to the GEs XA100 in the new block. I hope they eventually do, perhaps with even better ones. There seems to be a lot of new technologies on the horizon with NGAD coming.

  • @major__kong

    @major__kong

    3 ай бұрын

    Probably too much technical risk.

  • @jajssblue

    @jajssblue

    3 ай бұрын

    ​@@major__kong That would be my guess too. The Pratt and Whitney upgrade to the existing engines is just seen as more pragmatic.

  • @msytdc1577

    @msytdc1577

    3 ай бұрын

    ​@@jajssblueanother big factor was that as of yet they didn't have the ability to fit the adaptive cycle engine into the F-35B model with the lift fan, so they would either have had to put off the upgrade until that was possible, or end up with two different engines in use across the F-35 fleet (very bad for logistics and sustainment/readiness), AND the F-35B would still need the additional cooling capacity from the core upgrade option to use the same new electronics, so they would have had to fund both engine development programs, a very pricey proposition.

  • @Albertkallal

    @Albertkallal

    3 ай бұрын

    @@msytdc1577 Indeed, the 2 service channels would be a increased cost factor. The money for this engine upgrade was to come out of the Air force's pocket (they are the ones that wanted the adaptive cycle engine), but that would cost too much if the C and B model could not also get the engine. So, they went back to the drawing board, and now state that they can fit the engine into F35B models. The issue is cost, and now having two service channels and 2 engine service channels (as you noted) is a big cost factor. That new engine would jump F35 cost from 80 million each to about 100 million each. That's just too much money right now. There is VERY little chance the F35 will see that new engine. P&W has a technology up grade option that will increase power and increase cooling (thermal) abilities. The issue of thermal management? Well, think of older cars on hot days, and how with air conditioning they often over heated. Now, today, they don't. So, the additional cooling requirements are that of the blead air systems used to cool computers, weapons and radar and many more more systems. You can steal more bleed air, but that reduces engine power. The upgrade that P&W is offering will increase thermal cooling, and power, and that upgrade can be done over time, and done to existing F35's, including the B model, and done over time with very little cost to the program. it is a plug in now solution. So, P&W has a option for increased thermal management ready to go now, and this not only solves any block 4 issues, but also does not impact the per engine cost in any significant way.

  • @alexcovey1200
    @alexcovey12003 ай бұрын

    The only thing i can guarantee about this decade is that by 2030 technology is going to completely leap forward.

  • @williamzk9083

    @williamzk9083

    3 ай бұрын

    If you look at the achievements of LiliumJet with its electric jets (EDF electric ducted fans) you will likely see pure electric jets which will be completely stealthy in both the thermal and sound domain. Range will be limited to 500km but it will be quite dangerous.

  • @change_your_oil_regularly4287

    @change_your_oil_regularly4287

    3 ай бұрын

    Been hearing that for decades...... It's like finding life in our galaxy, crewed mission to Mars & the return of Jesus, It always seems to be 10yrs away.

  • @alexcovey1200

    @alexcovey1200

    3 ай бұрын

    @@change_your_oil_regularly4287 yeah

  • @williamzk9083

    @williamzk9083

    3 ай бұрын

    @@change_your_oil_regularly4287 We now have satellite fines, wrist phones, reusable space launchers, electric cars with 500km range, artifical intelligence. Self driving cars and mission to mars look achievable.

  • @tjs4519
    @tjs45193 ай бұрын

    Love this channel

  • @rickynelson8004
    @rickynelson80043 ай бұрын

    The sponsor made me think of an article I just saw on programs the air force is doing scanning and creating 3D models of parts for planes including the B-1 to keep them operating with more precisely made replacement parts. I was wondering your thoughts on programs like this?

  • @chollythecrazycorgihesinsa6505
    @chollythecrazycorgihesinsa65053 ай бұрын

    The Mustang is my favorite WWll plane too!!!

  • @randomuser6306

    @randomuser6306

    3 ай бұрын

    Mosquito ftw

  • @Red-238
    @Red-2383 ай бұрын

    Can you do a video about anti-missile missiles programs that could be mounted on the future fighters or even IRIS-T claims for such capabilities?.

  • @jamesstepp1925
    @jamesstepp19253 ай бұрын

    I would like to see a program on whether or when rotation detonation engines will be incorporated into fighters.

  • @matsv201

    @matsv201

    3 ай бұрын

    They are only effective at higher altitudes. So its more of a suborbital space plane thing. They are kind of useless as fighters becaus they would fly to highCan probobly use them as bombers.

  • @jamesstepp1925

    @jamesstepp1925

    3 ай бұрын

    @@matsv201 I am not sure that is correct. Are you thinking of a scramjet? Here is a quote from Sandboxx. In aircraft applications like jet fighters, rotating detonation engines could offer similar benefits to missiles in terms of range and speed while potentially reducing maintenance requirements. Fighters, in particular, rely on afterburners, which effectively firehose fuel into the engine’s exhaust stream for added thrust.

  • @matsv201

    @matsv201

    3 ай бұрын

    @@jamesstepp1925 A rotation-detonation engine would pretty much be a replacement for scram jet. While rotation-detonation is very efficient compare to scram jet, they are less efficient than turbofans. Of cause, efficiency is speed dependent. At speed supp to probobly around mach 3, a turbo jet or turbo fan may still be more efficient. (People often forget that XB70 exist, its not only the SR71 that does mach 3). While the propulsion force per unit of fuel is lower for the rotation-detonation engine, it will work in much higher speeds, that will in turn make it more effective. But, only if the altitude is adjusted. This may result in the rotation-detonation engine being very fuel efficient, but only at very high altitudes and speed. if you go below, efficiency drops like a rock. Of cause, for a bomber, flying at 100 000 feet (i don´t know exactly what altitude they would fly, but somewhere there about), its not really a issue. Rather the opposite., Bombing really high is beneficial for glide bombs. But for a fighter its not as simple: A fighter need to turn, even a modern one, need to turn. There may also be other reasons to fly lower and not quite as fast. Something like a NGAD (that probobly exist as a prototype to some degree) have a very wide range of flight speed. Probably all the way from 500 to 2500km/h, and the main issue is tans sonic effect close to the sound barrier. For something that use a rotation-detonation engine will need to have a fairly narrow speed band to be some what efficient. Its likely that it like the SR71, can slow down and go down to say 35 000feet to meet a tanker and fuel up. But it would then burn load of fuel to get up to speed and altitude again before it would be able to fly more efficient.

  • @matsv201

    @matsv201

    3 ай бұрын

    @@jamesstepp1925 This grapth explains it pretty well, its decades old and totaly out of date, but the core concept is still valid. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Specific_impulse#/media/File:Specific-impulse-kk-20090105.png

  • @simonwoess5679
    @simonwoess56793 ай бұрын

    3:50 Actually The WS-10C that the J-20 uses since 2019 have Stealthy features like serrated exhaust feathers So in comparison to the upcomming WS-15 the WS-10C is only lacking in Thrust and TVC and doesnt effect it stealth performance as much as the Al-41 on the Su-57

  • @ajaykumarsingh702

    @ajaykumarsingh702

    3 ай бұрын

    WS-15 Has entered mass production last year.

  • @simonwoess5679

    @simonwoess5679

    3 ай бұрын

    @@ajaykumarsingh702 The WS-15 got into production but there are yet has to be a production model of the J-20 that actually uses it That's why I used the word "upcomming"

  • @jamiegunn4900
    @jamiegunn49003 ай бұрын

    Great story on fighter engines! I've heard that rotating detination will be the next big thing in afterburners What do you hear??

  • @reilleyem
    @reilleyem3 ай бұрын

    Great video!!!

  • @ronjon7942
    @ronjon79423 ай бұрын

    I'd love to see the foundries where the exotic metals for the engines see reality, along with the chemistry, metallurgy, and engineering. It's gotta be amazing. Aren't F-35 parts made by entities across like 48 states and around the globe? Hats off to the Program Managers and Supply Chain Coordinators. The J58 has such an historic reputation for thrust, it's hard to wrap my head around how much more thrust the F119 has. But as one OP pointed out, at speed most of the thrust came from the inlet when the bypass and suck-in doors were closed, which was a unique 'cycle' (to borrow from GE's adaptive cycle nomenclature) the SR-71 exploited. Soooo, is it really accurate to compare the F119, F120, or the XA100 max thrust specifications with the J58's? It's not like sticking either of the three engines in the Blackbird is going to drive the aircraft to Mach 3.2.