The next (cancelled) version of Concorde wasn't going to need afterburnersq
True.
The 17th Concorde would have improved aerodynamics to the point that the it could power through M1 (when there's a big jump in drag that subsides past about M1.5) without burners.
The tough parts the the noise and the drag now that you can't buy straight turbojets, they are all low BP ratio fans (I looked it up. Even the ones on the SR71 and the F-111 are actually low BPR fans There's a J58 patent about it.).
Biting the hand that feeds IT
