What is one method of achieving thrust augmentation?

Thrust augmentation is primarily aimed at increasing the amount of thrust produced by an engine beyond its normal operating capacity. Implementing afterburners is a well-established method for achieving this. Afterburners, or reheat systems, inject additional fuel into the hot exhaust gases exiting the turbine section. This additional fuel combusts with the remaining oxygen in the exhaust, resulting in a significant increase in the temperature and volume of the exhaust gases. As a consequence, the speed and mass flow of this exhaust exiting the engine are increased, thereby producing more thrust without a proportional increase in engine size or weight.

This method is particularly effective in supersonic and military aircraft, where a sudden increase in thrust is crucial for performance during combat or takeoff situations. In contrast, the other listed options do not contribute effectively to thrust augmentation. Utilizing larger fuel tanks involves carrying more fuel but does not inherently increase the thrust produced by the engine. Reducing engine size generally leads to a reduction in performance and potentially greater thrust limitations, not an increase. Utilizing older engine designs might also reflect outdated technology that lacks the advancements seen in current afterburner systems or other thrust augmentation methods.