Afterburner

TECHNICAL DEFINITION

An afterburner, also known as a reheat system, is a post-turbine combustion system integrated into military turbofan or turbojet engines, designed for transient thrust augmentation by injecting and combusting additional fuel within the exhaust nozzle downstream of the main engine, enabling short-duration high-speed flight and increased takeoff performance despite high fuel consumption.

BACKGROUND

General Electric Company, doing business as GE Aerospace, is an American aircraft engine supplier that is headquartered in Evendale, Ohio, outside Cincinnati. It is the legal successor to the original General Electric Company founded in 1892, which split into three separate companies between November 2021 and April 2024, adopting the trade name GE Aerospace after divesting its healthcare and energy divisions.

SYNONYMS & ALIASES

• Reheat
• Thrust augmenter
• Augmenter
• Post-combustion system

USAGE NOTE

Afterburners are primarily used in military aircraft for short bursts of high thrust, such as during takeoff, combat maneuvers, or to accelerate to supersonic speeds, due to their extremely high fuel consumption rate.

DEVELOPERS

Organizations developing technology related to Afterburner.

• General Electric Aerospace

  A global leader in aerospace propulsion, GE Aerospace develops and manufactures military jet engines that frequently incorporate advanced afterburner technology for enhanced thrust, particularly for fighter aircraft.

• Pratt & Whitney

  A major American aerospace manufacturer, Pratt & Whitney designs and produces military turbofan and turbojet engines, many of which feature sophisticated afterburner systems for short-term thrust augmentation in combat aircraft.

• Rolls-Royce

  A British multinational aerospace and defense company, Rolls-Royce develops and manufactures high-performance military jet engines, including those with afterburners, used in various combat aircraft worldwide.

• Safran Aircraft Engines

  A French aerospace engine manufacturer, Safran Aircraft Engines (formerly Snecma) designs and produces military jet engines like the M88 for the Dassault Rafale, which utilizes an afterburner for superior thrust performance.

• United Engine Corporation (UEC)

  A Russian state-owned company, UEC develops and manufactures a wide range of aircraft engines, including those with afterburners for Russian military fighter jets such as the Su-27 and MiG-29 series.

• Eurojet Turbo GmbH

  A consortium of European engine manufacturers (Rolls-Royce, MTU Aero Engines, ITP Aero, and Safran Aircraft Engines) responsible for the EJ200 turbofan engine used in the Eurofighter Typhoon, which incorporates a highly efficient afterburner.

• MTU Aero Engines

  Germany's leading engine manufacturer, MTU Aero Engines is a key partner in several military engine programs, including the Eurojet EJ200, contributing to the development and technology of afterburner systems.

• IHI Corporation

  A Japanese heavy industries manufacturer, IHI is involved in the development, production, and maintenance of aircraft engines for Japan's defense forces, including designs that incorporate afterburner technology for fighter aircraft.