US firm ships 14,000-pound turbine core for supersonic jets and 42MW power plants

Boom Supersonic, a US aerospace company best known for developing the Overture supersonic passenger airliner, has unveiled its first 14,000-pound turbine core, designed to support both high-speed aircraft and natural gas power generation. The prototype, called Sprint Core, will serve as the foundation for the company’s Symphony jet engine and its Superpower 42-megawatt gas turbine. Boom said the core has been shipped from its research and development facility to a dedicated test site at the Colorado Air and Space Port. The company expects to begin operating the prototype by Thanksgiving. The announcement marks a step in Boom’s effort to apply technology originally developed for supersonic flight to electricity generation, where demand for additional power capacity is growing. The prototype contains a six-stage high-pressure compressor, a combustion system with 24 fuel nozzles and a single-stage high-pressure turbine. Its compressor uses components known as blisks, in which the blades and central disk are manufactured as a single piece. These are made from high-grade stainless steel and nickel-based alloys. The turbine also incorporates hollow superalloy blades designed to withstand high operating temperatures. Boom has equipped the prototype with nearly 1,000 sensors to monitor temperature, pressure, vibration, strain and other operating conditions. Including sensors on supporting systems, the total reaches approximately 2,000. Some measurements will be collected millions of times per second, generating data that engineers can use to evaluate the design and improve future versions. The company emphasized that Sprint Core is an experimental prototype intended to gather engineering data, rather than a production-ready engine. Factory targets 2GW output Alongside the prototype, Boom unveiled a $150 million manufacturing facility in Centennial, Colorado, spanning nearly 200,000 square feet across two buildings. The Superpower Superfactory is already producing components while construction continues. Once fully operational, it is expected to manufacture parts representing about 85% of each turbine’s mass, including blades, shafts and compressor components. Boom plans to install more than 75 large manufacturing and inspection machines and employ up to 500 workers. The company is targeting annual production of 1 GW, equivalent to 25 turbines, by 2028, rising to 2 GW or 50 turbines by 2029. First customer deliveries are planned for mid-2027. Boom also announced plans for an all-digital foundry capable of producing single-crystal turbine blades and vanes. These components are designed to withstand extreme temperatures and mechanical stress. The proposed manufacturing process would eliminate the need for conventional tooling, potentially allowing engineers to test new blade designs much faster. However, the foundry remains under development, with the first single-crystal components expected in 2027. The expansion comes as Boom seeks customers for its gas turbines following the reported cancellation of a $1.25 billion agreement with data-center developer Crusoe covering 29 turbines. Boom’s immediate challenge is to demonstrate that its shared turbine technology can perform reliably before scaling production for both electricity generation and supersonic aviation.Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.With over a decade-long career in journalism, Neetika Walter has worked with The Economic Times, ANI, and Hindustan Times, covering politics, business, technology, and the clean energy sector. Passionate about contemporary culture, books, poetry, and storytelling, she brings depth and insight to her writing. When she isn’t chasing stories, she’s likely lost in a book or enjoying the company of her dogs.