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How fighter jet engines achieve supersonic speeds

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How fighter jet engines achieve supersonic speeds
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Airbus A380 | Airbus

The afterburning turbofan engine plays a crucial role in the capabilities of modern fighter jets, providing the necessary thrust for supersonic speeds. These engines feature an additional combustion chamber known as an afterburner, which reignites hot gases to produce more power. This technology allows aircraft to achieve bursts of speed that are essential for various military operations.

Fighter jets have evolved over time, with fourth and fifth-generation designs incorporating high-powered turbofans with afterburners for improved fuel efficiency and performance. The ability to super-cruise—flying faster than the speed of sound without engaging the afterburner—is becoming increasingly common among post-Cold War fighters. This capability is vital for maintaining air superiority and performing tactical missions.

Supersonic speeds are particularly important in dogfighting, air intercepts, and other tactical scenarios involving powerful air forces. In contrast, counter-insurgency operations often require jets to provide close-air-support (CAS) at subsonic speeds. Here, fuel efficiency and handling are key factors.

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The main components of an afterburning turbofan include the fan, compressor, combustion chamber, turbine, exhaust nozzle, and afterburner. Each part plays a specific role in capturing air, compressing it, mixing it with fuel for combustion, extracting energy from gases to power other components, directing gases for maximum thrust, and finally increasing thrust through additional fuel combustion.

Some advanced fighter jets can now reach supersonic speeds without using their afterburners due to improvements in engine design. Notable examples include the F-22 Raptor equipped with Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100 engines capable of super-cruising thanks to their thrust-vectoring capabilities.

"Flying with the afterburner engaged for prolonged periods increases fuel consumption and heat stress on the engine," highlighting why supercruise capability is significant.

Afterburners can increase a jet engine's thrust by 50 percent or more without significantly adding weight or complexity. However, not all takeoffs require their use; they are typically engaged when launching from short runways or aircraft carriers.

Naval aviation models like the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet incorporate afterburner technology as part of their design to assist in carrier launches. Even non-military aircraft such as Concorde used afterburners during takeoff when needed.

The F-35 Lightning II uses a Pratt & Whitney F135 engine featuring an integrated afterburner but emphasizes stealth over sustained high-speed performance. 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