' AIRCRAFT REACTORS General Our review of the aircraft reactor program (Aircraft Nuclear Propulsion, or ANP) concentrated on the technicalstatus and prospects of the reactor aoe . : eo, ee, sane eee odietenn eden developments and the associated problems of integration into a propulsion system. We note, however, that the military have evidenced increased respon- sibility for evaluating the potential military worth of nuclear-propelled . aircraft and have explored a concept for long-range bombing operations which appears to capitalize effectively on the inherent characteristics of nuclear propulsion. This is the "nuclear cruise - chemical sprint" concept. Chiefly as a result of stronger and more realistic military planning and cooperation with the A.E.C., the premises of the overall program seem much sounder than before, with the result that reactor development work is proceeding on a more purposeful and urgent basis. OTSSES Thé-Mix.Forceregards the nuclear-powered aircraft as a potential weapons system for the. 1960-65 period to replace the B52, which will then be outmoded, It will be included in a preliminary design competition next year in which the instructions will call for a study of a nuclear aircraft which will also be able to operate on chemical fuel only and, as a hedge, a study of an airplane which is designed solely for chemical fuel. The A.E.C. budgets for fiscal 54, 55 and 56 in millions of dollars are: Fluid Fuel (ORNL and P&w) General Support (ORNL), e.g. Shielding, Biolegy & Medicine Direct Cycle (GE) Nuclezr Development Associates 1954 1955 1956 5.5 10.3 15.2 3.0 3.0 3.6 0.1 0.3 0.3 5.9 5.6 9.3 et pee