{{Short description|Brazilian scramjet engine in development}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}} {{Infobox aircraft | name = 14-X | logo = | logo_size = | image = | alt = | caption = Artist's conception of the 14-XW demonstrator | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = Scramjet engine | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = Brazil | manufacturer = Department of Aerospace Science and Technology (DCTA) | design_group = | designer = Institute of Advanced Studies of the DCTA | builder = | issuer = | status = Flight testing | owners = | primary_user = Brazilian Air Force | more_users = Brazilian Space Agency | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = | introduction = | retired = | first_flight = 14 December 2021 | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }}

The '''14-X''' is a Brazilian scramjet engine in development by the Aerothermodynamics and Hypersonics Laboratory Henry T. Nagamatsu of the Institute of Advanced Studies (IEAv) of the Department of Aerospace Science and Technology as part of the ''PropHiper'' (Portuguese: ''Projeto de Propulsão Hipersônica 14-X'').<ref name="FAB1">{{cite web|url=https://www.fab.mil.br/noticias/mostra/38356/IND%C3%9ASTRIA%20AEROESPACIAL%20%20-%20O%20Brasil%20na%20era%20da%20Propuls%C3%A3o%20Hipers%C3%B4nica:%20Projeto%2014-X|title=Propulsão Hipersônica: Projeto 14-X|language=pt|date=11 December 2021|website=Brazilian Air Force|access-date=11 December 2021|archive-date=11 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211211225502/https://www.fab.mil.br/noticias/mostra/38356/IND%C3%9ASTRIA%20AEROESPACIAL%20%20-%20O%20Brasil%20na%20era%20da%20Propuls%C3%A3o%20Hipers%C3%B4nica:%20Projeto%2014-X|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="defesabr">{{cite web | url = http://www.defesabr.com/Tecno/tecno_14X.htm | title = O 14-X HIPERSÔNICO UM FUTURO PARA A FAB | website = DEFESABR | date = 5 March 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070305161441/http://www.defesabr.com/Tecno/tecno_14X.htm | archive-date = 2007-03-05 | language = pt}}</ref> The name is a reference to the 14-bis, of the Brazilian inventor and aviation pioneer Alberto Santos-Dumont.<ref name="istoe">{{cite web | url = http://istoe.com.br/286707_DO+14+BIS+AO+14+X/ | title = Do 14-bis ao 14-X | website = ISTOÉ | date = 28 March 2013 | language = pt | access-date = 28 July 2020 | archive-date = 24 September 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200924202119/https://istoe.com.br/286707_DO+14+BIS+AO+14+X/ | url-status = live }}</ref>

The Brazilian Air Force conducted the first qualification test flight of the 14-X engine on 14 December 2021 from the Alcântara Space Center.<ref name="First Flight"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_lau/vlm.htm |title=O CLA e Sua Agenda de Lançamentos Até 2022 |website=Brazilian Space |date=21 June 2019 |access-date=18 June 2021 |archive-date=9 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211209194905/https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_lau/vlm.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="planned flight 1">{{cite web|url=https://www.fab.mil.br/noticias/mostra/33480/TECNOLOGIA%20-%20Conclu%C3%ADda%20mais%20uma%20etapa%20do%20projeto%20de%20desenvolvimento%20de%20um%20ve%C3%ADculo%20hipers%C3%B4nico|title=Concluída mais uma etapa do projeto de desenvolvimento de um veículo hipersônico|language=pt|date=21 February 2019|website=Brazilian Air Force|access-date=28 July 2020|archive-date=23 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200723172224/https://www.fab.mil.br/noticias/mostra/33480/TECNOLOGIA%20-%20Conclu%C3%ADda%20mais%20uma%20etapa%20do%20projeto%20de%20desenvolvimento%20de%20um%20ve%C3%ADculo%20hipers%C3%B4nico|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="planned flight 2">{{cite web|url=https://www.infodefensa.com/latam/2020/03/03/noticia-brasil-pondra-prueba-operacion-cruzeiro.html|title=Brasil pondrá a prueba el 14-X en la Operación Cruzeiro|language=es|date=3 March 2020|website=Infodefensa.com|access-date=28 July 2020|archive-date=23 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200723172043/https://www.infodefensa.com/latam/2020/03/03/noticia-brasil-pondra-prueba-operacion-cruzeiro.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Development== Brazil conducts studies in the field of aspirated hypersonics since 1990s,<ref name="FAB1"/> but a development plan was conceived only in 2007, through the ''PropHiper'' project, made official by the Air Force in 2008,<ref name="DAN">{{cite web|url=https://www.defesaaereanaval.com.br/aviacao/projeto-14-x-o-brasil-na-era-da-propulsao-hipersonica|title=Projeto 14-X – O Brasil na era da Propulsão Hipersônica|language=pt|date=11 December 2021|website=Defesa Aerea e Naval|access-date=11 December 2021|archive-date=11 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211211223241/https://www.defesaaereanaval.com.br/aviacao/projeto-14-x-o-brasil-na-era-da-propulsao-hipersonica|url-status=live}}</ref> when the engineer-captain of the Brazilian Air Force, Tiago Cavalcanti Rolim, started a master's degree at the Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica (ITA) and was approved with a thesis on the waverider configuration.<ref name="istoe" /> The development of the project started with an experimental model by the Institute for Advanced Studies in the same year.<ref name="istoe" /> Testing of the hypersonic engine started in October 2009.<ref name="defesabr" />

==Project details== thumb|350px|Project steps and demonstrators to be built thumb|300px|A video showing a VSB-30 launch in Esrange, Sweden as part of TEXUS 49 in 2011.

'''14-X S''' {{See also|14-XS}}

On 2 December 2021, the Air Force's Department of Aerospace Science and Technology (DCTA) announced the beginning of ''Cruzeiro Operation'' seeking to conduct the first flight of the 14-X.<ref name="Cruzeiro 2">{{cite web|url=https://www.fab.mil.br/noticias/mostra/38305/|title=DCTA envia ao CLA preparativos da Operação Cruzeiro|language=pt|date=2 December 2021|website=Brazilian Air Force|access-date=6 December 2021|archive-date=3 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211203175413/https://www.fab.mil.br/noticias/mostra/38305/|url-status=live}}</ref> The flight date was kept confidential.<ref name="Cruzeiro 2"/>

The first test flight of the 14-X scramjet engine took place at the Alcantara Space Center, using a Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle named 14-X S . The vehicle was placed at an altitude of about 30&nbsp;km by a VSB-30 booster before 14-X activation, which saw the vehicle reach an apogee of 160&nbsp;km and was monitored by the tracking station of the Barreira do Inferno Launch Center in Rio Grande do Norte as it traversed a distance of roughly 200&nbsp;km before dropping into a safe spot in the Atlantic Ocean.<ref name="First Flight">{{cite web|url=https://fab.mil.br/noticias/mostra/38395/OPERA%C3%A7%C3%A3O%20CRUZEIRO%20-%20FAB%20realiza%20primeiro%20teste%20de%20voo%20do%20motor%20aeron%C3%A1utico%20hipers%C3%B4nico%2014-X|title=FAB realiza primeiro teste de voo do motor aeronáutico hipersônico 14-X|date=16 December 2021|website=Brazilian Air Force|access-date=16 December 2021|archive-date=16 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211216232246/https://fab.mil.br/noticias/mostra/38395/OPERA%C3%A7%C3%A3O%20CRUZEIRO%20-%20FAB%20realiza%20primeiro%20teste%20de%20voo%20do%20motor%20aeron%C3%A1utico%20hipers%C3%B4nico%2014-X|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://tecnodefesa.com.br/fab-realiza-primeiro-teste-de-voo-do-motor-aeronautico-hipersonico-14-x/|title=FAB realiza primeiro teste de voo do motor aeronáutico hipersônico 14-X|date=16 December 2021|website=Revista Tecnologia e Defesa|language=pt|access-date=21 December 2021|archive-date=16 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211216205832/https://tecnodefesa.com.br/fab-realiza-primeiro-teste-de-voo-do-motor-aeronautico-hipersonico-14-x/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Development of the 14-X project involves the building of four hypersonic technology demonstrator vehicles, each with its own demonstrational objectives:<ref name="FAB1"/> * '''14-XS''': ballistic ascending flight with supersonic combustion; * '''14-XSP''': ballistic ascending flight with aspirated hypersonic propulsion; * '''14-XW''': Demonstration of glided flight, without propulsion, of a controllable and maneuverable hypersonic vehicle with guidance, navigation and control systems during hypersonic stratospheric flight; * '''14-XWP''': autonomous flight of a controllable and maneuverable vehicle with active aspirated hypersonic propulsion.

===Purpose=== The technology is considered by Brazil as one of the most efficient means of accessing space in the near future, and could be used to place satellites in orbit and make suborbital flights.<ref name="istoe" /><ref name="defesabr" /> It can also be used in other areas such as the development of intercontinental ballistic missiles with a more potent rocket or in civil aviation.<ref name="defesabr" />

==Operation history== A list with conducted operations of the 14-X: {| class="wikitable" ! Date !! Vehicle !! Mission !! Results !! Ref |- | 14 December 2021 || 14-X (XS VSB-30 V32) || Qualification (''Cruzeiro Operation'') || {{success}} || <ref name="First Flight"/> |}

==See also== {{Portal|Brazil}} * Ballistic missile * Brazilian space program * Cruise missile * Scramjet * Scramjet programs * Waverider

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * [http://www.ieav.cta.br/index.php IEAv website] * [http://www.cta.br CTA website] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20070305161441/http://www.defesabr.com/Tecno/tecno_14X.htm More about the project]

Category:Hypersonic aircraft Category:2020s Brazilian military aircraft Category:Unmanned military aircraft of Brazil Category:Short-range ballistic missiles Category:2020s Brazilian experimental aircraft