DARPA, US Army Set to Begin Hypersonic Boost Glide Weapon Program
Ami Rojkes Dombe
| 12/11/2018
https://www.darpa.mil/news-events/2018-11-09
Three companies have received separate contracts to build propulsion technologies intended to power a ground-based weapons delivery platform as part of the joint DARPA/US Army Operational Fires (OpFires) program.
OpFires aims to develop and demonstrate a novel ground-launched system enabling hypersonic boost glide weapons to penetrate modern enemy air defenses and rapidly and precisely engage critical time-sensitive targets.
The program seeks to develop innovative propulsion solutions that will enable a mobile, ground-launched tactical weapons delivery system capable of carrying a variety of payloads to a variety of ranges. Phase 1 of the program will be a 12-month effort focused on early development and demonstration of booster solutions that provide variable thrust propulsion across robust operational parameters in large tactical missiles.
Phase 2 will mature designs and demonstrate performance with hot/static fire tests targeted for late 2020. Phase 3, which will focus on weapon system integration, will culminate in integrated end-to-end flight tests in 2022.
[Sources: DARPA, ExecutiveBiz]
https://www.darpa.mil/news-events/2018-11-09
Three companies have received separate contracts to build propulsion technologies intended to power a ground-based weapons delivery platform as part of the joint DARPA/US Army Operational Fires (OpFires) program.
OpFires aims to develop and demonstrate a novel ground-launched system enabling hypersonic boost glide weapons to penetrate modern enemy air defenses and rapidly and precisely engage critical time-sensitive targets.
The program seeks to develop innovative propulsion solutions that will enable a mobile, ground-launched tactical weapons delivery system capable of carrying a variety of payloads to a variety of ranges. Phase 1 of the program will be a 12-month effort focused on early development and demonstration of booster solutions that provide variable thrust propulsion across robust operational parameters in large tactical missiles.
Phase 2 will mature designs and demonstrate performance with hot/static fire tests targeted for late 2020. Phase 3, which will focus on weapon system integration, will culminate in integrated end-to-end flight tests in 2022.
[Sources: DARPA, ExecutiveBiz]
