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Various technology programs in Europe are concerned, besides developing reliable and rugged, low‐cost, throwaway equipment, with preparing for future reusable propulsion technologies. One of the key roles for realizing reusable engine components is the use of modern and innovative materials. One of the key technologies that concerns various engine manufacturers worldwide is the development of fiber‐reinforced ceramics—CMCs (ceramic matrix composites). The advantages for the developers are obvious–the low specific weight, the high specific strength over a large temperature range, and their great damage tolerance compared with monolithic ceramics make this material class extremely interesting as a construction material. Over the past few years, the EADS‐ST Company (formerly DASA) has, together with various partners, worked intensively on developing components for hypersonic engines and liquid rocket propulsion systems. In the year 2000, various hot‐firing tests with subscale (scale 1:5) and full‐scale nozzle extensions were conducted. In this year, a further decisive milestone was achieved in the sector of small thrusters, and long‐term tests served to demonstrate the extraordinary stability of the C/SiC material. Besides developing and testing radiation‐cooled nozzle components and small‐thruster combustion chambers, EADS‐ST worked on the preliminary development of actively cooled structures for future reusable propulsion systems. In order to get one step nearer to this objective, the development of a new fiber composite was commenced within the framework of a regionally sponsored program. The objective here is to create multidirectional (3D) textile structures combined with a cost‐effective infiltration process. Besides material and process development, the project also encompasses the development of special metal/ceramic and ceramic/ceramic joining techniques as well as studying and verifying nondestructive investigation processes for the purpose of testing components.

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One of the key points for the development of dual-mode ramjets operating up to Mach 8 or more is the mastery of fuel-cooled composite materials structures, which are needed, at least, for the combustion chamber. MBDA France and EADS ST have been working on the development of a particular technology for such structures taking advantage of the background of MBDA France in the ¦eld of dual-mode ramjet and fuel-cooled structures and of ASTRIUM-EADS ST in the ¦eld of high-temperature composite materials. They have developed an innovative technology for advanced monobloc cooled C/C/SiC structures. The paper gives an updated status of the development of Paroi Tiss‚ ee Application Hypersonique ¡ Simple Operational Composite for Advanced Ramjet (PTAH-SOCAR) technology, including test results, and presents some results obtained during system and demonstrator studies.

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