Nuclear fusion powered fighter aircraft

[naiveessene]

Currently skunk works is working on a compact fusion reactor able to fit on military vehicles and aircraft. They said in 5 years they'll built a prototype, in 10 years a fully functional one. Back in the 50s the military was trying to create nuclear powered aircraft but failed because of the radioactive reactor. Since fusion is different from fission and isn't radioactive. If they are able to create a Fully functional fusion reactor would the Air Force try to create their fighter aircraft, with a new kind propulsion system ran by a fusion reactor. They'll have a fighter able to go hypersonic and stay at the speed for long durations without worrying about it eating up all the fuel. They'll stop worrying about refueling every few hours, the benefits are endless. What are your thoughts on this. Is fusion powered aircraft the future of Military aircraft?

 

[Todjaeger]

Currently skunk works is working on a compact fusion reactor able to fit on military vehicles and aircraft. Back in the 50s the military was trying to create nuclear powered aircraft but failed because of the radioactive reactor. Since fusion is different from fission and isn't radioactive would the Air Force try to create their fighter aircraft, with this new type of propulsion system. They'll have a fighter able to go hypersonic and stay at the speed for long durations without worrying about it eating up all the fuel. They'll stop worrying about refueling every few hours, the benefits are endless. What are your thoughts on this. Is fusion powered aircraft the future of Military aircraft?

Please check your information again. Then, re-check it.

At present, there is no fusion reactor in operation that has a higher energy output, then the energy input required to initiate and contain the fusion reaction.

Once this issue is resolved, then perhaps work can be done to make a compact reactor which could be used to power vehicles. Until we can get fusion reactors far enough along to use them to generate power, all the rest will remain science fiction.

 

[RobWilliams]

Please check your information again. Then, re-check it.

Indeed. It's simply nonsense.

 

[StobieWan]

Currently skunk works is working on a compact fusion reactor able to fit on military vehicles and aircraft. They said in 5 years they'll built a prototype, in 10 years a fully functional one. Back in the 50s the military was trying to create nuclear powered aircraft but failed because of the radioactive reactor. Since fusion is different from fission and isn't radioactive. If they are able to create a Fully functional fusion reactor would the Air Force try to create their fighter aircraft, with a new kind propulsion system ran by a fusion reactor. They'll have a fighter able to go hypersonic and stay at the speed for long durations without worrying about it eating up all the fuel. They'll stop worrying about refueling every few hours, the benefits are endless. What are your thoughts on this. Is fusion powered aircraft the future of Military aircraft?

You might be thinking of this:

Compact Fusion · Lockheed Martin

That's a ground based system which could plug into where a large GT might fit but it's a long long way from being a flyable aircraft engine and that's not one of the stated aims of the program.

 

[ngatimozart]

Controlled nuclear fusion reaction on Earth is a physics goal and any scientist who achieves this will gain an instant Nobel Prize in Physics. Fusion needs two things to work, immense pressure and immense heat. We can achieve uncontrolled fusion at the moment in a thermonuclear explosion. So the ability to power a fighter aircraft through fusion power at the moment is just pure rubbish.