Bristol-based company Aeralis has unveiled a remarkable modular jet concept it says can handle an enormous range of different capabilities, from two-seat transonic advanced jet trainers to long-range ISR aircraft – delivering huge savings on maintenance.
It’s based on a “Common Core Fuselage” (CCF) with integrated modular avionics, into which a dizzying array of modular, interchangeable parts can be fitted. That starts at the cockpit, where you can slot in a two-seat tandem setup, a single-seat cockpit with extra fuel storage or electronic warfare equipment in the space behind it, or no seats at all, for a completely unmanned aerial system.
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It continues back to the wings; the inner wing is common to all variants, but the outer wing could be a long, thin fella designed for high-lift, long-endurance flight more tailored toward ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance) missions, or a stealth wing, or a swept-back low-drag job designed for high transonic speeds, or an advanced subsonic wing designed for pulling high gs as an advanced jet trainer.
Continue here: New Atlas
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