Posted on 05/20/2026 7:52:49 AM PDT by Red Badger
The first preliminary design layout for a hypersonic ramjet engine is a strong proof point that shows the tech’s potential to revolutionize the design process.
A hypersonic dual-mode ramjet from GE Aerospace. Stock image. GE Aerospace
US-based GE Aerospace has announced a historical feat, which is producing the preliminary design layout for a hypersonic ramjet engine in mere seconds.
The feat was made possible with the help of a generative artificial intelligence-powered app that was demonstrated by a team of AI researchers at the company. According to the team, the hypersonic ramjet engine’s primary design layout met all criteria for safe flight.
The development has come at a time when the United States Department of Defense (DoD) and the commercial aviation sector are prioritizing the speed of new developments to meet air travel demand. The company says it is trying out generative AI to keep pace with rising expectations by putting new tools and capabilities in engineers’ hands now.
Designing a hypersonic ramjet engine with generative AI
The team of researchers at GE Aerospace said that they were able to simultaneously account for multiple flight conditions and scenarios that a customer would typically outline to inform their hypersonic ramjet engine design. Using GE Aerospace’s generative AI app allowed engineers to reduce this early design study work from weeks and months to seconds in a day to arrive at a similar result.
“GE Aerospace is all-in on AI,” Joe Vinciquerra, General Manager and Senior Executive Director, GE Aerospace Research, said. “The use of generative AI to design a hypersonic speed ramjet is a great example of how we are bringing together AI science with decades of embedded know-how to shape the future of commercial and military jet engine technologies.”
He added that by using generative AI tools, GE Aerospace can significantly reduce design cycle times, “enabling us to be faster to test and ultimately faster to commercialize the best, most proven end product.”
The first preliminary design layout for a hypersonic ramjet engine is a strong proof point that shows AI’s potential to revolutionize the design process, he added.
GE Aerospace’s recent wins
Further, GE Aerospace researchers are also expanding the application of their innovative generative AI design app to accelerate commercial jet engine technologies through the CFM International Revolutionary Innovation for Sustainable Engines (RISE) program. The RISE program is advancing a suite of technologies, such as open fan architecture, for next-generation narrowbody engines.
Recently, GE Aerospace was awarded a US Air Force contract to complete the preliminary design review (PDR) for its new GE426 engine. The GE426 engine is a next-generation propulsion system purpose-built for the medium-thrust-class ACP mission, which is required for uncrewed, autonomous combat aircraft.
Apart from the large engines needed to power fighter jets and commercial planes, the company is also investing in small, affordable engines that can be produced at scale to power autonomous combat platforms, collaborative combat aircraft, and other advanced applications. While used in the first instance for initial design of a hypersonic ramjet engine, the new generative AI-enabled app can also be used to come up with new and better-performing designs for newer types of engines to power drones.
Earlier, the company had also cleared the XA102 adaptive cycle engine for assembly before it is integrated into the sixth-generation Boeing F-47 fighter jet.
There was a nice young man going door-to-door yesterday selling home remodeling and construction services. His company is doing a project in the neighborhood. He is 30 years old, no college degree, spent 9 years at Facebook as a technical program manager. He isn’t a programmer, not a tech guy. He wrote an app using AI for his construction company that ingests photos of a customer’s property, documents the project, documents project progress against schedule and more. Like us, he did it on his own. I asked him if he had evaluated the many construction management apps already out there and he said none of them are as comprehensive as what he put together.
This is a paradigm shift the world has never seen before!
You’re both wrong. He changed his name to Vince GE Aero to get the job.
My dad has a Pinto he fixed up for my mom that she had to have since it belonged to a friend of hers.
He did a great job and went through a lot finding parts.
It’s a manual, my mom had surgery on both knees and has never driven it.
Dad does once in a while.
The military vehicle that is blown up is not the same vehicle that was driven up..................
“The military vehicle that is blown up is not the same vehicle that was driven up..................”
It looks the same.
“The military vehicle that is blown up is not the same vehicle that was driven up..................”
It looks the same.
Doesn’t someone have to vet this design out? How long would that take? Or are they just going to build it and light that sucker up?
‘Ang on a tick, how does one static test a ramjet?
That would be a problem.
The SR-71 engines had to be started externally using two Buick engines in tandem to get them up to speed.................
Amazing and frightening at the same time.
There’s lot of applications by companies that are now extremely vulnerable. We’ve taken some automotive software standards, having an open specification, and had AI create us our own implementation - vs. licensing a commercially available one.
I wouldn’t want to be a small software company at this time.
Big companies can’t do that because of the legal ramifications.
If a homegrown application messes up, the company is on the hook, whereas if it’s a third-party vendor they would be on the hook.
Of course. But big company software standards will be revised to allow AI code with all the necessary regression testing just like GE is doing with AI-assisted engine design.
The wind tunnel and test cells for this engine would be great to read about.
Years ago read about testing early ramjet engines and using a turbojet to generate the airflow.
Never could wrap my feeble brain around use a jet exhaust as an air supply for another engine.
Not 100% sure, but hat engine looks mounted backwards?
“how does one static test a ramjet?
Use a tubojet exhaust to generate the supersonic intake flow.
I gather the test cells for those used to rattle windows in the San Fernando valley a long time ago.
“All of that died off pretty suddenly.”
Hey!
LBJ’s Great Society needed ever tax dollar available.
Our trillions in debt are due to that bastard.
So, now you have “teens” running like baboon packs in cities instead of human advancement.
“A keyboard, how quaint.”
He's our man!
And his Proton Energy Pills.............No wonder we are a nation of druggies....................
I take a little comfort in knowing that LBJ is riding the Devil’s rotisserie for eternity.
yeah, after all our brothers his ego get killed.
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