The Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute named after N. E. Zhukovsky (TsAGI) has received a patent for a fuselage element of a promising supersonic aircraft. The document, numbered 2855559 C1, was published on February 2, 2026.
The technology is planned to be used in the creation of nose and tail sections of promising airliners designed specifically for flight in the supersonic regime.
How the New Fuselage Element Is Designed
According to the description, the fuselage element has a non-axisymmetric shape. Its outer surface is formed by two parts connected in each cross section. The contour is formed by halves of superellipse arcs with a common center and major axis.
In the initial section, they form an edge oriented vertically or horizontally. This geometry ensures a smooth transition of shape along the length of the body and makes it possible to precisely control volume distribution.
What Effect the Development Provides
Due to the new shape, the fuselage redistributes volume in the longitudinal direction. This reduces wave drag and weakens the sonic boom during flights at supersonic speeds.
Calculations showed that at Mach 1.8 and zero angle of attack, drag decreases by about 4% compared with traditional configurations. In some layouts, the reduction reaches 20–40%.
Modeling also confirmed a reduction in the pressure differential in the shock wave, which lowers the acoustic impact on the Earth's surface.
Where the Technology Will Be Used
The development is planned to be used in the design and modernization of supersonic aircraft, including civil and special-purpose aircraft. The solution can improve aerodynamic efficiency and expand the operational capabilities of such machines.
Andrei Kozlov, Director General of the P. I. Baranov Central Institute of Aviation Motors, noted that the first supersonic aircraft in Russia will appear no earlier than the 2040s. He also stated that Russia is ahead of the United States by three years in work on an engine for supersonic aviation.
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