FACELIFT – Fluidic Actuators for Control of stEaLth aIrcraFT

Description
The FACELIFT project aims to improve strategic surveillance capability, survivability and operational resilience for future stealth aircraft, which will be more stealthy and more maneuverable than the current generation of military assets such as the European MALE-RPAS. This will be achieved using fluidic actuators (sweeping jets and synthetic jets) integrated in front of the wing control surfaces. These control surfaces will then be more efficient and can be downsized thus reducing the Radar Cross Section.

Goal
Two types of actuators will be considered: sweeping jets and synthetic jets. It is expected that the implementation of closed-loop controlled fluidic actuators will deliver a 50 % decrease of the Radar Cross Section originating from a control surface for the same maneuverability by area reduction. Considering stabilising surfaces, such as a fin, it is expected that the area may be halved, which on the aircraft level may contribute up to a 30 % reduction of the RCS. By using synthetic jet actuators, the IR signature will not be impacted due to its electric power source.

Lead Partner
CEDRAT TECHNOLOGIES SA

Partners involved
ESC DEFENCE S.R.O., NAVASTO GMBH, OFFICE NATIONAL D’ETUDES ET DE RECHERCHES AEROSPATIALES

Duration
01 December 2022 – 30 November 2025

More information
https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/projects-details/44181033/101102557/EDF
https://cedrat-technologies.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/facelift-project-presentation.pdf