About the Project

The rapid evolution of modern air warfare is driving growing interest in both small-scale drone swarms and larger UAV platforms, capable of operating autonomously or in cooperation with manned aircraft.

In this context, propulsion is a critical enabling factor: future systems require engines that are not only high-performing, but also cost-effective, scalable, rapidly manufacturable, and operationally flexible.

Turbojet engines are highly attractive candidates for these applications, thanks to their high specific thrust and their ease of integration into a wide range of air platforms. However, several technological and industrial challenges still limit their large-scale deployment:

• Relatively low efficiency and high specific fuel consumption, which reduce range and endurance
• High manufacturing cost and long lead times, which hinder rapid production and deployment at scale
• High infrared signature, which can reduce survivability in contested environments
• Limited fuel flexibility, which constrains operational adaptability and deployability

DAMAGER specifically addresses these challenges through four enabling technologies:

• Innovations in engine thermodynamic cycle to improve fuel efficiency and reduce specific fuel consumption
• Advanced additive manufacturing materials and processes to reduce production cost and manufacturing lead time
• Innovative nozzle designs to minimize infrared signature and improve survivability
• Advanced combustion and injection concepts to enable efficient fuel-flexible operation

These technologies will be investigated through a combination of numerical analyses and experimental studies on turbojet components tested in laboratory conditions. The project aims to de-risk future industrial exploitation, validate the proposed concepts, and generate a high-value database to support model validation and future propulsion-system development.