BOSTON - The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has selected MagLev Aero for concurrent awards under its Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and Embedded Entrepreneur Initiative (EEI) programs to advance the company's rim-driven ducted-fan propulsion technology toward flight-relevant demonstration and commercialization.
The MVP award will support MagLev Aero in building and testing a full-scale propulsion demonstration platform, with the company targeting a Technology Readiness Level 6 (TRL-6) demonstration in a relevant operational environment.
Boston-based MagLev Aero is developing its MagLev HyperDrive propulsion architecture for drones and advanced air vehicles. The company says the rim-driven ducted-fan system is designed to provide greater thrust for a given power input, with potential benefits including increased aircraft speed, range, payload capacity, and efficiency, as well as reduced acoustic signature.
MagLev says the DARPA-funded demonstration will evaluate the propulsion technology at full scale under flight-relevant conditions, providing data on aerodynamic performance, stability, and reliability. The company says the effort is intended to reduce technical and integration risks for airframers and original equipment manufacturers developing autonomous drones and other advanced air vehicles.
The second award, through DARPA's EEI program, will support commercialization and U.S. industrialization of the propulsion technology. DARPA's Commercial Strategy Office describes EEI as a program that pairs technical talent from DARPA programs with experienced business leaders to accelerate transition of technologies into government and commercial markets.
MagLev says the EEI effort will help the company navigate federal acquisition processes and pursue potential transition opportunities. The company also plans to develop a U.S.-based manufacturing and supplier network for its propulsion technology.
Multiple applications
MagLev identifies defense applications including autonomous drones, counter-uncrewed-aircraft systems, and contested-logistics aircraft, as well as commercial advanced air mobility. The company also identified the Air Force, Navy, NASA, AFWERX, U.S. Special Operations Command, and the Air Force Research Laboratory as potential government transition or procurement opportunities, but did not identify a specific aircraft or defense program for the DARPA demonstration.
The DARPA-supported work will provide an opportunity to determine whether MagLev's claimed propulsion-efficiency and acoustic benefits can be demonstrated at full scale and under flight-relevant conditions. The company says the effort ultimately is intended to advance its HyperDrive architecture toward production for U.S. defense and commercial aircraft applications.
