Mathieu LUGRIN, Jose CARDESA, Guillaume GROSSIR, Pierre SCHROOYEN, Alexander THEISS, Jens LUNTE, Lorenzo TARCHI, Julien LEFIEUX, Lauren DELAGE
DOI Number: N/A
Conference number: HiSST-2025-031
The SILENT project is a new research initiative backed by the European Defence Fund. Its main objective is to enhance the EU hypersonic testing capabilities by designing hypersonic quiet wind tunnels. Such state-of-the-art facilities are crucial to replicate the flight conditions of hypersonic cruise and re-entry vehicles, for which traditional wind tunnels fail to generate correct free-stream disturbance levels. By focusing on both low-enthalpy and the more challenging flight-enthalpy quiet tunnel designs, SILENT addresses a strategic, technological and operational need in the EU defense and research sector. This paper outlines the project goals, its methodology and expected outcomes, while covering the links to
application requirements and to the current state-of-the-art. The potential for disruptive innovation in hypersonic technologies, enhanced vehicle design capabilities and strengthened European defence and civil R&D collaborations are highlighted.
