Nuclear Powered Military Plane

The solid state sub-critical accelerator driven reactor I had proposed earlier can be modified to allow a nuclear-thermal aircraft designed for sustained stratospheric operations. The primary power source is a 150 MeV Accelerator Driven System (ADS) reactor. The reactor utilizes a depleted Uranium (U-238) core, which achieves high efficiency through the nuclear multifragmentation. Thermal energy is managed via a closed-loop supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO₂) Brayton cycle operating at a core temperature of 800° C.

Propulsion is achieved through two long-form nuclear turbojets. These engines feature a reduced cross-section to minimize supersonic wave drag while providing an elongated duct for maximum thermal residence time. At the inlet, an sCO₂ driven mechanical fan provides the necessary mass flow for short take-off and landing (STOL) operations and low-speed thrust. At cruise, the system transitions to a thermal expansion model where the 800C sCO₂ loop heats augmented atmospheric air directly in the bypass duct. This configuration enables a maximum speed of Mach 0.95 and an operational ceiling of 15,000 to 18,000 meters.

The aircraft functions as a multi-role platform. It carries advanced sensor suites for persistent surveillance, effectively operating as a low-orbit satellite replacement with higher resolution and zero orbital decay. For strike missions, it utilizes internal racks for Hex Missiles, which feature a 6-in-1 kinetic warhead configuration for high-density target saturation. The airframe utilizes a dry-wing design with a carbon-fiber monocoque structure, as the elimination of liquid fuel allows for a high-aspect-ratio wing optimized purely for lift and aerodynamic efficiency.