UNDF Engineering has said that the n-Core testbed successfully completed it's first batch of bench tests including the extended maximum thrust "torture test". Whilst the engine has proven to be reliable it has fallen short of a number of key targets such as fuel economy and signature management.
A DF source says the issues are not a disaster, software tweaks and some modifications to the engine management system may help resolve these issues without requiring any major redesign. DF are still hopeful the first Tachyon family engine based on n-Core will be ready by 2130.
