Aircraft propulsion system

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising:

• a propulsor;
• an engine assembly including an engine and an interburner,
• the engine including an air inlet, an exhaust outlet, and an engine output shaft, the engine output shaft is operably connected to the propulsor, and the engine is configured to drive rotation of the propulsor with the engine output shaft, and
• the interburner is connected in fluid communication with the exhaust outlet, the interburner is configured to mix and burn an exhaust gas from the engine with fuel to form a combustion gas;
• a turbocompressor including a turbine and a compressor, the turbine is connected in fluid communication with the interburner to receive the combustion gas, the compressor is connected in fluid communication with the air inlet to direct a compressed air to the engine, and the turbocompressor is mechanically independent of the engine output shaft;
• and
• an electrical assembly including an electric generator operably connected to the turbine, and the electrical assembly is electrically connected to one or more electrical aircraft loads of the UAV.

A propulsion system for an aircraft, the propulsion system comprising:

• an engine assembly including an intermittent combustion engine, the intermittent combustion engine including an air inlet, an exhaust outlet, and an engine output shaft, the engine output shaft is configured to be operably connected to a propulsor of the aircraft, and the intermittent combustion engine is configured to drive rotation of the propulsor with the engine output shaft;
• a turbocompressor including a turbine and a compressor, the turbine is connected in fluid communication with the exhaust outlet, the compressor is connected in fluid communication with the air inlet to direct a compressed air to the engine, and the turbocompressor is mechanically independent of the engine output shaft;
• and
• an electrical assembly including an electric generator, an electric motor, and an electrical distribution system electrically connecting the electric generator and the electric motor, the electric generator is operably connected to the turbine, and the electric motor is operably connected to the engine output shaft.