Supersonic business jet

A supersonic business jet (SSBJ) is a small business jet intended to travel at speeds above Mach 1.0 (supersonic aircraft). As of 2019, no SSBJs are available, although several manufacturers are working on or have worked on designs.

Sukhoi SSBJ project model

Typically intended to transport about ten passengers, proposed SSBJs would be about the same size as traditional subsonic business jets. Only two large commercial supersonic transports ever entered service: the Aérospatiale/British Aerospace Concorde and Tupolev Tu-144. They had relatively high costs, high noise, high fuel consumption and some environmental concerns. Both were operated under large government subsidy and did not recoup development costs.

Several manufacturers believe that many of these concerns can be successfully addressed at a smaller scale. In addition, it is believed that small groups of high-value passengers (such as executives or heads of state) will find value in higher speed transport.

Current and former proposals for SSBJs include:

Several companies, including Gulfstream Aerospace, continue to work on technologies intended to reduce or mitigate sonic booms. An example is the Quiet Spike.

In January 2018, Vladimir Putin proposed a civil SSBJ variant of the Tu-160 bomber, for a potential market of 20-30 units in Russia alone at $100-120 million each. UAC previously studied a SSBJ, displaying a scale model at MAKS Air Show 2017, to be designed and built in seven years with an existing engine like the NK-32 and a titanium airframe, a limited production would be worth an expected $150 million price.[1]

References
  1. Vladimir Karnozov (January 30, 2018). "Russia Flirts with SSBJ Version of Tu-160 Bomber". AINonline.
External image
Concept drawings
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