Towards the NextRS Y-Plane Hypersonic Aircraft: Overcoming Material and Structural Limitations

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and its Aerospace Projects Office (APO) are requesting information on aircraft structural technologies and material deficiencies related to the design and development of reusable, lightweight, thermally controlled airframe structures. This information could potentially support the development of new DARPA programs.
APO aims to bridge the gap between the current state-of-the-art in reusable hypersonic vehicles and the level of technical maturity required to initiate the design of the advanced NextRS Y-Plane aircraft by the end of this decade.
Recent developments in hypersonic weapons have led to a resurgence of structural concepts and the development of materials capable of withstanding the hypersonic environment and weapon operational cycles. Progress has been made in thermal protection systems, "hot" structures, and additively manufactured structures. Research is being conducted on composite materials such as carbon-carbon, infused carbon-carbon, or ceramic matrix composites.
However, these achievements are insufficient for creating hypersonic aircraft structures that need to be reusable over longer operational timelines, have efficient weight on large surfaces/airframes, and be primarily designed for thermal loads rather than mechanical loads.
DARPA is interested in what might hinder the development and construction of a reusable, lightweight, thermally controlled metallic airframe and skin for a hypersonic aircraft in the near future. Aspects such as resource assessment, weight efficiency, thermal management, and the use of metallic materials are being considered.

https://t.me/darpaandcia/87