Army Research Lab Hybrid Engine Completes VICTOR Flight Demonstration

The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Army Research Laboratory completed a flight demonstration of a heavy-fuel rotary-engine series-hybrid propulsion system aboard VICTOR, a Group 3 unmanned aircraft. The research took place through the laboratory’s Versatile Tactical Power and Propulsion program.

Key details

• The engine was designed to use JP-8 heavy fuel.
• A motor-generator converts engine power into electricity for the propeller motors, rather than mechanically driving the propellers.
• Researchers used metal additive manufacturing to redesign engine components.
• The air-cooled design does not require liquid coolant.
• Industry partners, including Griffon Aerospace, worked on VICTOR.

The engine powers a 400-volt motor-generator that supplies electricity to the propeller motors.

Why it matters

The series-hybrid arrangement separates engine power generation from propeller drive, with electric motors turning the propellers. The air-cooled design removes liquid-cooling equipment from the propulsion system.