Defense & Aerospace Report Defense & Aerospace Air Power Podcast [Oct 23, 25] Season 3 E40: In Thrust We Trust
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Oct 23, 2025 Darin DiTommaso, Vice President of Defense & Systems Engineering at GE Aerospace, discusses the latest innovations in military propulsion. He sheds light on the development of adaptive engines and hypersonics, emphasizing their efficiency and adaptability for advanced aircraft. Darin also explores the potential for retrofitting these technologies into legacy fleets and addresses the resilience of the supply chain. He highlights GE's strategies in workforce development, materials risk, and market demands, all while bridging commercial and military advancements.
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Systems Engineering Is The Mission Multiplier
- GE emphasizes systems engineering to harmonize advanced materials, aerodynamics, and components into efficient engines.
- Darin DiTommaso says front-end and back-end engine interactions require century-long empirical plus theoretical expertise.
Adaptive Engines Deliver 'And,' Not 'Or'
- Adaptive-cycle engines can deliver both high cruise efficiency and high thrust by varying thermodynamic cycles.
- DiTommaso highlights thermal cooling capacity as critical for advanced aircraft mission systems.
Keep The Industrial Base Spinning
- Feed consistent work into the industrial base to keep skills, suppliers, and factories healthy.
- DiTommaso advises multiple programs sustain welding, supplier investment, and workforce confidence.