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General Discussion => Advanced Concepts => Topic started by: Star One on 05/29/2015 09:27 am

Title: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 05/29/2015 09:27 am
I did have a thread on here that was about using a hypersonic launcher but that was too specific & as there seems to be quite a fair bit of development going on in this area I thought it might be an idea to start a more general thread about it. This thread is for developments that are not related to Skylon. As a general point in relation to this forum I've added the thread as hypersonic research can include straddling the line between general aviation & space flight the hypersonic vehicles for example are often launched in the same way.

Anyway I start the thread with this article.

Quote
Waltham missile maker Raytheon Co. has just taken on a tall order from the Department of Defense: Create a cruise missile that could travel more than five times the speed of sound.

Raytheon is getting $20 million from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, the Pentagon branch best known for having sponsored the invention of the Internet. This time, the agency wants a technology that weapons designers have dreamed of since the 1930s — a hypersonic missile that travels so fast there’s virtually no defense against it.

http://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2015/05/26/going-hypersonic-raytheon/Qnrg2YJUdMo2SXiVphoBaO/story.html#
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 06/02/2015 06:19 pm
AF Chief Scientist: Air Force Working on New Hypersonic Air Vehicle.

Presuming they are meaning a drone or aircraft here, not a missile.


Read more: http://defensetech.org/2015/06/01/af-chief-scientist-air-force-working-on-new-hypersonic-air-vehicle/#ixzz3bvjakFd4
Defense.org
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: vulture4 on 06/02/2015 06:26 pm
the cruise missile application continues to look like the most obvious to me:

"The new air vehicle effort will progress alongside an Air Force hypersonic weapons program. While today’s cruise missiles travel at speeds up to 600 miles per hour, hypersonic weapons will be able to reach speeds of Mach 5 to Mach 10, Air Force officials said. The new air vehicle could be used to transport sensors, equipment or weaponry in the future, depending upon how the technology develops"
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 06/02/2015 08:02 pm
What they could be talking about here is the HSSW.

http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/products/high-speed-strike-weapon-hssw.html

I still wonder if REL's technology could play a part in something even more ambitious than the HSSW.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: docmordrid on 06/05/2015 01:13 am
What they could be talking about here is the HSSW.

http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/products/high-speed-strike-weapon-hssw.html

I still wonder if REL's technology could play a part in something even more ambitious than the HSSW.

With the former chief engineer of Rolls Royce taking the Managing Directors job at REL ISTM something's afoot. A sideways move before an acquisition? Or someone western govts can be assured can mature a possible defense windfall?
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: TrevorMonty on 06/05/2015 03:38 am
Unfortunately wars and weapons seem to drive technology development. The plus side is technology from a hyper sonic cruise missile should enable development of civil hyper sonic aircraft.
Title: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 06/19/2015 10:17 pm
New article on the SR-72 with a very little more detail on its design in the text. Got a feeling the related magazine article might be more extensive.

http://www.popsci.com/inside-americas-next-spyplane
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: jee_c2 on 06/20/2015 12:58 pm
Here is an article about communicating with hypersonic vehicles in flight:
http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Communicating_with_hypersonic_vehicles_in_flight_999.html

(about a method: how to overcome the craft surrounding, EM waves reflecting plasma layer)
Title: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 06/23/2015 08:53 pm
Pulse detonation engine and continuous detonation wave engines.

Various bits & pieces of info.

http://nextbigfuture.com/2015/06/pulse-detonation-engine-and-continuous.html

Notice the PDE space plane.:D
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 08/19/2015 06:41 am
German space researchers reboot effort to launch hypersonic space plane

Quote
The Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR), Germany's aerospace research center, has renewed decade-old plans for a suborbital passenger space plane that could fly from Europe to Australia in under 90 minutes. The rocket-powered SpaceLiner, originally conceptualized as a 50-passenger hypersonic airliner, has now been given new urgency and direction with a roadmap for flights within the next 20 years, SpaceLiner project lead Martin Sippel told Aviation Week at last month's American Institute of Aerodynamics and Astronautics' Space Planes and Hypersonics Conference in Glasgow. Sippel spoke at the conference, presenting on SpaceLiner's technical progress and the program's mission definition—which now includes potentially delivering satellites and other payloads to space.

http://arstechnica.com/science/2015/08/german-space-researchers-reboot-effort-to-launch-hypersonic-space-plane/
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 08/19/2015 09:23 am
Unfortunately wars and weapons seem to drive technology development. The plus side is technology from a hyper sonic cruise missile should enable development of civil hyper sonic aircraft.
True.

Unlikely to be much use in building LVs.
Pulse detonation engine and continuous detonation wave engines.

Various bits & pieces of info.

http://nextbigfuture.com/2015/06/pulse-detonation-engine-and-continuous.html

Notice the PDE space plane.:D
The plane is interesting.

Especially considering how far a SCRamjet crew carrying vehicle remains

German space researchers reboot effort to launch hypersonic space plane

http://arstechnica.com/science/2015/08/german-space-researchers-reboot-effort-to-launch-hypersonic-space-plane/
And for only $33Bn.

IIRC that's just over 1/2 cost of the Shuttle programme in 2010+ dollars (the figure I saw was $60Bn).

Here is an article about communicating with hypersonic vehicles in flight:
http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Communicating_with_hypersonic_vehicles_in_flight_999.html

(about a method: how to overcome the craft surrounding, EM waves reflecting plasma layer)
Neat idea. It's one of those "Why didn't anyone think of it before" notions.   :(

Reduce losses by impedance matching the plasma.

IIRC the Spring ABM did this to control the missile in flight but needed radar signals in the MW range to punch through the sheath.

The joker in this pack is of course how the plasma sheath thickness compares to the usual range of radio frequencies people use for comms.

It would be quite ironic if needed HF (relying in ionospheric reflection from the plasma there) to get through the plasma sheath around your M5 vehicle.

It would also mean all those GHz satcomms systems would be useless as well.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: clongton on 08/19/2015 02:12 pm
A hypersonic flight from New York to Los Angeles would take about 30 minutes but if that includes high acceleration at NY and high deceleration at LA then what kind of g's are we talking about? Could civilian passengers withstand that? And what would be the actual cruise time at altitude?
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: A_M_Swallow on 08/19/2015 10:02 pm
A hypersonic flight from New York to Los Angeles would take about 30 minutes but if that includes high acceleration at NY and high deceleration at LA then what kind of g's are we talking about? Could civilian passengers withstand that? And what would be the actual cruise time at altitude?

Limit acceleration to 0.5 g, hypersonic is Mach 5+ so round off to 2000 m/s then it will take about 6.8 minutes to reach that speed. Total journey will be less than 3/4 hour. Unless the aircraft has to fly subsonic until it reaches the countryside.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Rocket Surgeon on 08/24/2015 11:48 pm
In the eternal words of one of my uni mates at UQ: "Scramjets Suck"

In all seriousness, Scramjets are an incredibly difficult technology to make work across varying speeds as the entire engine needs to be designed around the bow shockwaves created by any leading edges. The problem is, these shockwaves change angle as you speed up and you lose efficiency and/or risk destroying your vehicle if the shocks don't contact the right points. Hence, you're entire vehicle (or at least the engines) need to morph as they speed up, and at hypersonic speeds, that's a tall order. At the University of Queensland, they were at one point investigating vehicles that would sweat COPPER in order to protect themselves form the hyper sonic heat. But, at a constant hypersonic speed for a short time, they are great (espeacially if they are...'disposable').

This has one very unfortunate implication for anyone working on scramjet research. It will really only have military applications, either as hyper sonic cruise missiles or hypersonic spy planes. As a space launch system where you have to constantly speed up and get out of the atmosphere ASAP, well as I said above, "Scramjets suck". 
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 08/29/2015 09:44 am
Breakneck Speed: New Russian Jet Engine to Propel Aircraft to 9,000 Kmh

Read more: http://sputniknews.com/military/20150823/1026084410/russia-creates-breakthrough-jet-engine.html#ixzz3kCCLCbSi
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 09/22/2015 07:33 am
China may have conducted test flight of world's fastest aircraft

Quote
China may have recently conducted a successful test of the fastest hypersonic aircraft in the world, reports Hong Kong newspaper Ta Kung Pao.

According to a report released Friday on the official website of state-owned aerospace and defense giant Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), one of its test flight centers has completed an initial test flight on an unspecified high-altitude, super-fast aircraft with a "unique flying style."

http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?id=20150921000033&cid=1101
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Eric Hedman on 03/16/2016 03:10 pm
New article on Lockheed Hypersonic jet research:

http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/781f6c08-ead6-11e5-bb79-2303682345c8.html#axzz435BPHDRS (http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/781f6c08-ead6-11e5-bb79-2303682345c8.html#axzz435BPHDRS)
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 03/16/2016 07:32 pm
For a non-paywall version. Space flight actually gets a specific mention in this.

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/lockheed-pushing-1-billion-mach-6-airbreather-423198/
Title: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 06/28/2016 06:23 am
DARPA revives turbine-ramjet concept for hypersonics

A turbine-based combined cycle (TBCC) propulsion system to enable routine hypersonic flight by a vehicle that can take-off and land from a runway is back on the agenda at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) after a five-year hiatus.

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/darpa-revives-turbine-ramjet-concept-for-hypersonics-426735/
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 06/29/2016 07:46 am
DARPA revives turbine-ramjet concept for hypersonics

A turbine-based combined cycle (TBCC) propulsion system to enable routine hypersonic flight by a vehicle that can take-off and land from a runway is back on the agenda at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) after a five-year hiatus.

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/darpa-revives-turbine-ramjet-concept-for-hypersonics-426735/
It always amuses me when I see the term "integrated" in one of these announcements.

The most "integrated" way to do this is of course to ditch the ramjet part entirely, which is basically what SABRE does.

The problem then becomes how to keep the airframe from melting. An interesting  idea in this regard would be make it out of RCC with a refractory oxidation resistant metal. Atomic Layer Deposition produces multiple thin, highly conformant layers which could be very well matched to the underlying RCC, substantially reducing cracking and raising use temperature over current silica glass coatings.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: su27k on 07/14/2016 04:28 pm
Russia Is Building a Nuclear Space Bomber
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/07/14/russia-is-building-a-nuclear-space-bomber.html

Russia reveals hypersonic stealth bomber that can launch nuclear attacks from space: Radical plane could begin testing in 2020
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3689325/Russia-reveals-hypersonic-stealth-bomber-launch-nuclear-attacks-space-Radical-plane-begin-testing-2020.html
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 11/10/2016 06:37 am
Hypersonic Flight Is Coming: Will the US Lead the Way?

Quote
"We're poised on the brink of a new era in air transportation," McBride said. "We do need to go faster. There is a market for supersonic flight over land in an efficient manner that can fly without being an annoyance to everyone on the ground."

NASA also is exploring ways to improve the efficiency and reduce the environmental impacts of subsonic aircraft. Engineers are experimenting with blended wings and other innovations.

Smith admitted that the difficulty that Congress and the president have experienced in passing budgets has caused problems in sustaining research.

"None of that is conducive to good work getting done in an efficient way," Smith said. "And we can do better. We need to get to the point where continuity actually lasts beyond just one administration, much less beyond tomorrow. And we're with you on that."

Bedke said there is no time to waste in moving these programs forward.

"It is inevitable that hypersonic technologies are going to happen," he said. "It is not inevitable that we are going to be the country to do it first. But we can be the country to do it first, but we're going to have to put our minds to it, and we're going to have to stop the history of fits and starts, of throwing money at a big program, achieving a wild success, and then having no follow-up. Or throwing a lot of money at too big a program, taking too giant a bite, failing miserably and then deciding hypersonics isn't going anywhere. Neither of those must be allowed to happen in the coming years."

http://www.space.com/34631-hypersonic-flight-technology-united-states.html
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 11/10/2016 08:09 am
Hypersonic Flight Is Coming: Will the US Lead the Way?
http://www.space.com/34631-hypersonic-flight-technology-united-states.html
I feel the same way about "historical inevitability" as I do about claims that normal economics does not apply to company X.

It was claimed the triumph of Communism was also "historically inevitable." This turned out to be nonsense.

If your a military with a large budget you can already have hypersonic flight. You just stick your missile on a very big rocket, which is how Sprint ABM did it. If you want more range you make it a liquid fueled rocket.

Routine hypersonic flight, which you can buy a ticket for, needs a lot more than this. It needs a human carrying aircraft capable of long duration operation.  Options that work fine for single use, limited time systems like ablatives are not really viable for repeated, long duration operations.

Not only the options weapons use are unlikely to be viable for civilian use but it seems that due to problems with CFD the only reliable way to do a SCramjet is full scale development. Wind tunnels don't cut it either. So you need a full size, full speed development programme for a SCramjet vehicle in a way you simply don't need for any  other engine system.

IOW if you want to develop a full size SCramjet powered airliner you have to have a full size SCramjet powered airliner to do the development work on to ensure the results are accurate.

Concorde proved there is a market for flights faster than M1.  The joker in the pack is a development programme that commercial companies can afford that will sell enough vehicles for them to make a profit.

I think the days when governments like the French, British and American would do this as a cost plus project for "national pride" are long over. The US experience of both the SST and the NASP should have taught them to stay well away from this.
Russia Is Building a Nuclear Space Bomber
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/07/14/russia-is-building-a-nuclear-space-bomber.html

Russia reveals hypersonic stealth bomber that can launch nuclear attacks from space: Radical plane could begin testing in 2020
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3689325/Russia-reveals-hypersonic-stealth-bomber-launch-nuclear-attacks-space-Radical-plane-begin-testing-2020.html
Lots of odd ideas in these articles.

Assuming a 2 hr to target up to half a planet away that's  a speed of roughly 10 000 Km/Hr, about Mach 8.16

This is not orbital and would not break the Outer Space Treaty, except (technically) when it was outside the atmosphere.

Note also they are talking about a tri propellant (or possibly quadpropellant) engine of Kero/Methane/Air (and LO2?)

TBH this story sounds like Russia playing a version of the old "Nuclear powered bomber" scare of the 1950s, which managed to divert millions of $ into a concept that was basically unworkable.

I've also very doubtful the X37b is not big enough for a nuke, given you can put one in a 155mm or 200mm artillery shell and naval shells are being fitted with control fins and GPS to improve their accuracy.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Paul Howard on 11/18/2016 08:09 pm
When is the next hypersonic test planned?
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: CameronD on 11/20/2016 09:16 pm
When is the next hypersonic test planned?

Sometime next year.

https://uqnews.drupal.uq.edu.au/article/2016/05/hypersonic-flight-horizon (https://uqnews.drupal.uq.edu.au/article/2016/05/hypersonic-flight-horizon)
Title: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 12/12/2016 12:02 pm
Quote
Aerojet Rocketdyne Explores Detonation Engine Options

For over 70 years, jet engines have powered airplanes ever more safely and efficiently. But, despite higher core temperatures and pressures, and the introduction of efficient propulsion concepts like the geared fan, conventional gas turbines may be running out of runway. A fundamental change in the way a gas turbine combusts air and fuel in its core could open a path to a new era of jet engine development, however. Long pursued by propulsion researchers as a potential game-changing ...

http://m.aviationweek.com/technology/aerojet-rocketdyne-explores-detonation-engine-options
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Hog on 12/12/2016 05:01 pm


I've also very doubtful the X37b is not big enough for a nuke, given you can put one in a 155mm or 200mm artillery shell and naval shells are being fitted with control fins and GPS to improve their accuracy.
The MADM(Medium Atomic Demolition Munition) weighed 181kg/400 pounds was a variable-yield from 1 kiloton up to 15 kilotons equivalent of TNT. Based off of the W45 warhead.

The SADM(Special Atomic Demolition Munition)  Based off of the W54 warhead which was used on the Davy Crocket weapons system which  had a warhead that weighed approx. 23kg(51 pounds) with its TNT equivalent between 10 tons and 1 kiloton.

I would have to agree that at least one of these devices could be loaded aboard an X-37B
Pics
1)MADM
2)SADM
3)XW-54 detonation yield at 6 kilotons TBT equivalent
4)Davy Crocket recoilless rifle system (2,100 built)
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 12/12/2016 11:01 pm
The MADM(Medium Atomic Demolition Munition) weighed 181kg/400 pounds was a variable-yield from 1 kiloton up to 15 kilotons equivalent of TNT. Based off of the W45 warhead.

The SADM(Special Atomic Demolition Munition)  Based off of the W54 warhead which was used on the Davy Crocket weapons system which  had a warhead that weighed approx. 23kg(51 pounds) with its TNT equivalent between 10 tons and 1 kiloton.

I would have to agree that at least one of these devices could be loaded aboard an X-37B
Pics
1)MADM
2)SADM
3)XW-54 detonation yield at 6 kilotons TBT equivalent
4)Davy Crocket recoilless rifle system (2,100 built)
My point exactly. The sort of thing I was thinking about was even smaller.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_artillery

Specifically the W48 at 155mm with a yield of 0.1KT (IE 100 tonnes of TNT).

I'm pretty sure this and the larger W33 (200mm dia, 40KT yield) would be within the carrying mass of the X37b.

That said IRL any such plan faces several problems.
1) AFAIK the last shell was dismantled in about 2004.
2) Shells are not re-entry vehicles. It would need to be wrapped in TPS and given a guidance package. leaving it inside the X37b is a very expensive way to wage (limited, IE 1 shot) nuclear warfare.
3)Developing a suitable TPS/guidance package, along with a dispenser from the X37b's payload bay is likely to be a time consuming and expensive task. Well within the capabilities of the US, but a royal PITA.

My point was the payload limits on the X37b are not a barrier to making it an orbital nuclear delivery vehicle.

It's everything else (treaty obligations, technical complexity, sheer expense) that does that.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: RDoc on 01/01/2017 11:07 pm
I think there might also be some real questions about viability of any kind of high altitude bomber-like based attack. Sounds like a sitting duck for missile defenses.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 01/03/2017 06:13 am
I think there might also be some real questions about viability of any kind of high altitude bomber-like based attack. Sounds like a sitting duck for missile defenses.
There's plenty of reason to question such an idea.

Like weaponizing a Skylon, if you have the skills to do it, you have the skills to cause trouble a lot more easily and cheaply.

It's a plot line from a straight-to-download thriller.   :(
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 01/03/2017 07:13 am
I think there might also be some real questions about viability of any kind of high altitude bomber-like based attack. Sounds like a sitting duck for missile defenses.
There's plenty of reason to question such an idea.

Like weaponizing a Skylon, if you have the skills to do it, you have the skills to cause trouble a lot more easily and cheaply.

It's a plot line from a straight-to-download thriller.   :(
Best you tell the new president then being as I've seen it quoted multiple times that part of the increased money for defence that he intends to introduce is for hypersonic related projects.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 02/09/2017 08:24 pm
Leading development of hypersonic engines and spaceplanes

http://www.nextbigfuture.com/2017/02/leading-development-of-hypersonic.html
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: CameronD on 02/10/2017 12:46 am
Leading development of hypersonic engines and spaceplanes

http://www.nextbigfuture.com/2017/02/leading-development-of-hypersonic.html

That's just click-bait masquerading as a re-hash of old news and advertising.  It isn't even current, making statements like:
"Hypermach has completed final detail design of the first stage turbine core of a hypersonic engine. Manufacturing of this first stage has begun and is expected to be finished in 2016" -- Hello?  It's 2017 already.
and
"Reaction Engines of the UK is a leader in developing a hypersonic vehicle and hypersonic components" --  If anyone on the planet is a "leader in developing a hypersonic vehicle and hypersonic components" it would have to be the Hyshot team, not them.

No, nothing to see here.. move along! :)
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 02/10/2017 06:23 am
Leading development of hypersonic engines and spaceplanes

http://www.nextbigfuture.com/2017/02/leading-development-of-hypersonic.html

That's just click-bait masquerading as a re-hash of old news and advertising.  It isn't even current, making statements like:
"Hypermach has completed final detail design of the first stage turbine core of a hypersonic engine. Manufacturing of this first stage has begun and is expected to be finished in 2016" -- Hello?  It's 2017 already.
and
"Reaction Engines of the UK is a leader in developing a hypersonic vehicle and hypersonic components" --  If anyone on the planet is a "leader in developing a hypersonic vehicle and hypersonic components" it would have to be the Hyshot team, not them.

No, nothing to see here.. move along! :)

Your commentary about REL is pretty disingenuous.
Title: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 02/17/2017 06:36 pm
Classified Report On Hypersonics Says U.S. Lacking Urgency

Quote
Less than four years ago, it seemed that the U.S. Air Force was on the brink of developing the first generation of air-breathing high-speed strike weapons following the success of the experimental scramjet-powered Boeing X-51A. Now a classified report warns that the U.S. may be losing its lead in hypersonics to China and Russia. Although parallel research on hypersonic glide vehicles under DARPA’s HTV-2 program suffered failures in 2010 and 2011, the Air Force by 2013 appeared ...

Quote
Others involved in U.S. hypersonics support the report’s recommendations. Kevin Bowcutt, senior technical fellow and chief scientist for hypersonics at Boeing Research and Technology, says “many lessons on the path to X-51A success were hard-earned. Given the criticality of hypersonics as articulated in the report and with X-51A under our belt, there would be obvious value in leveraging this extensive experience and know-how to accelerate full-scale development of an operational hypersonic vehicle or weapon.”

Bowcutt also believes the U.S. needs to create “a comprehensive national plan with adequate funding that fields offensive and defensive hypersonic capabilities as quickly as technology maturation, system integration and capability demonstration allow.”

“It is a big problem for us. We have been kind of resting on our laurels,” says Leon McKinney, president of McKinney Associates and former executive director of the U.S. hypersonics industry team. “The U.S. has been fighting wars and terrorism, so that is one of the reasons why we have not seen a burst of capability developments. But it seems our adversaries are catching up.”

McKinney backs a three-phased approach to spurring development of a boost-glide capability, starting with a focus on an offensive hypersonic system that he believes could still be fielded within three years. Development of a defensive system, which McKinney says is “tough,” would aim at characterizing Chinese and Russian vehicle maneuvering capabilities to produce a “threat tube,” to enable effective interdiction. A third element would include development of a maneuvering target vehicle “which we could engage as a simulated threat.”

The report does not specify that current programs should be abandoned, “but we think there are some programmatic changes we need to see,” says Lewis. “We just say, step on the gas and move these programs forward. If you want to map out a strategy to get you from the things we have tested to an operational system, one would argue we are not on that track.”

http://aviationweek.com/defense/classified-report-hypersonics-says-us-lacking-urgency

Podcast: Hypersonics Wake-Up Call

http://aviationweek.com/defense/podcast-hypersonics-wake-call
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: CameronD on 02/19/2017 09:37 pm
Classified Report On Hypersonics Says U.S. Lacking Urgency

Sounds to me more like a call for more money by someone frustrated at the current lack of progress..

After all, it wouldn't be the first time in the history of aerospace that "The Russians Are Coming!" evoked a response from those holding the purse-strings.  :P
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 02/19/2017 10:08 pm
Classified Report On Hypersonics Says U.S. Lacking Urgency

Sounds to me more like a call for more money by someone frustrated at the current lack of progress..

After all, it wouldn't be the first time in the history of aerospace that "The Russians Are Coming!" evoked a response from those holding the purse-strings.  :P

I expect it to work pretty well if it is in the current climate.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Arch Admiral on 02/20/2017 02:22 am
Before anyone posts anything about hypersonic flight, they should read T. A. Heppenheimer's book
FACING THE HEAT BARRIER: A HISTORY OF HYPERSONICS (NASA-SP-2007-4232). It's probably available free from the NASA History Program website and is the best popular history of this field. Any sane person who reads this book won't be fooled by scare stories in the tabloid press about impossible Russian and Chinese hypersonic aircraft.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 02/20/2017 05:53 am
Before anyone posts anything about hypersonic flight, they should read T. A. Heppenheimer's book
FACING THE HEAT BARRIER: A HISTORY OF HYPERSONICS (NASA-SP-2007-4232). It's probably available free from the NASA History Program website and is the best popular history of this field. Any sane person who reads this book won't be fooled by scare stories in the tabloid press about impossible Russian and Chinese hypersonic aircraft.

Who said anything about aircraft here.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Archibald on 02/20/2017 06:34 am
Well my post has been censored but it doesn't matter. I say it again (perhaps more politely) David Axe knows little about spaceflight and it is more clickbait than anything else.
As for the Daily Mail it is hardly better.


Title: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 02/20/2017 12:38 pm
Well my post has been censored but it doesn't matter. I say it again (perhaps more politely) David Axe knows little about spaceflight and it is more clickbait than anything else.
As for the Daily Mail it is hardly better.

I think we are talking at cross purposes here as I was referring to the classified report that Aviation Week were reporting on.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Archibald on 02/20/2017 04:05 pm
Russia Is Building a Nuclear Space Bomber
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/07/14/russia-is-building-a-nuclear-space-bomber.html

Russia reveals hypersonic stealth bomber that can launch nuclear attacks from space: Radical plane could begin testing in 2020
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3689325/Russia-reveals-hypersonic-stealth-bomber-launch-nuclear-attacks-space-Radical-plane-begin-testing-2020.html

I reacted to this post, more exactly to the links, which are pretty bad (a nuclear space bomber ? really ? powered by fairy dust ?)
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 02/20/2017 11:29 pm
I reacted to this post, more exactly to the links, which are pretty bad (a nuclear space bomber ? really ? powered by fairy dust ?)
Yet Another SCramjet powered plan.   :(

It just does not add up.

The Russians have an ICBM that can hit anywhere on the planet in less than 30 mins already. They've sunk a lot of cash into that and it seems to work alright.

As has been noted an X37b could carry a nuclear warhead in it's payload bay but why would it?

Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: QuantumG on 02/21/2017 10:16 pm
As has been noted an X37b could carry a nuclear warhead in it's payload bay but why would it?

Weapons to fight the Goa'uld.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: R7 on 02/22/2017 08:56 am
Weapons to fight the Goa'uld.

Ah so if Americans fail to get all of them in orbit then Russian bomber will finish the job by nuking all the landed motherships.
Now it all makes sense.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Ronsmytheiii on 02/24/2017 02:29 pm
Classified Report On Hypersonics Says U.S. Lacking Urgency

Sounds to me more like a call for more money by someone frustrated at the current lack of progress..

After all, it wouldn't be the first time in the history of aerospace that "The Russians Are Coming!" evoked a response from those holding the purse-strings.  :P


Yeah like that time people complained about Sputnik just for money......

Or maybe there is a real threat that unbiased experts now recognize as a threat, after all it is very arrogant to doubt the advanced engineering and determination of both Russia and China to develop hypersonic weapons.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 02/24/2017 10:23 pm
Or maybe there is a real threat that unbiased experts now recognize as a threat, after all it is very arrogant to doubt the advanced engineering and determination of both Russia and China to develop hypersonic weapons.
Historically the US has flown ramjet missiles to M5. It just took a stuck fuel valve and IIRC worked quite well (till it ran out of fuel)  :)

The problem with hypersonic flight is not that it can't be done, it's when people insist on doing it in the atmosphere and using a SCramjet to do it. If you're OK with using a rocket it's (relatively speaking) not that difficult. If you want longer range in the same package then ramjets can already do that with reasonable T/W.

Engineering a long range hypersonic missile using a conventional ramjet is within the current SoA. The toughest part is likely to be the structure and the TPS.
Title: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 06/07/2017 10:49 am
Skunk Works Hints At SR-72 Demonstrator Progress

DENVER, Colorado—Four years after revealing plans to develop a Mach 6 strike and reconnaissance aircraft, Lockheed Martin says hypersonic technologies are now sufficiently mature to enable progress towards a flight ...

http://m.aviationweek.com/defense/skunk-works-hints-sr-72-demonstrator-progress

Quote
However, Weiss hints that work on a combined cycle propulsion system and other key advances needed for a viable hypersonic vehicle are reaching readiness levels sufficient for incorporation into some form of demonstrator. Following critical ground demonstrator tests from 2013 through 2017, Lockheed Martin is believed to be on track to begin development of an optionally piloted flight research vehicle (FRV) starting as early as next year. The FRV is expected to be around the same size as an F-22 and powered by a full-scale, combined cycle engine.

Quote
“The combined cycle work is still occurring and obviously a big breakthrough in the air-breathing side of hypersonics is the propulsion system,” Weiss adds. “So this is not just on combined cycle but on other elements of propulsion system.”
The technology of the “air breather has been matured and work is continuing on those capabilities to demonstrate that they are ready to go and be fielded,” he adds.

I'd thought even a demonstrator testing at hypersonic velocities in the big empty of Area 51 is going to be noticeable?
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 06/28/2017 01:31 pm
Future Weapons: Rivals Push Pentagon to Boost Funding for Hypersonics Research

http://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2017/6/26/future-weapons-rivals-push-pentagon-to-boost-funding-for-hypersonics-research
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 07/12/2017 04:45 pm
US, Australia conclude secretive hypersonic flight series

Quote
The tests were conducted under the auspices of the Hypersonic International Flight Research Experimentation (HiFIRE) programme, says Australia's Department of Defence in a statement.

In the statement, defence minister Marise Payne congratulated Canberra's Defence Science and Technology Group (DST) and the US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) "on another successful hypersonic flight at Woomera test range."

She said that the tests have achieved "significant milestones, including design assembly, and pre-flight testing of the hypersonic vehicles and design of complex avionics and control systems."

She said Canberra and Washington DC are drafting plans for future hypersonic work.

The statement also thanked Boeing, BAE Systems, and the University of Queensland as partners on the programme.

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/us-australia-conclude-secretive-hypersonic-flight-439239/
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: CameronD on 07/13/2017 12:11 am
I'd thought even a demonstrator testing at hypersonic velocities in the big empty of Area 51 is going to be noticeable?

Maybe, but taken in concert with your post above, if the tests were held at Woomera, there's no-one anywhere close enough to see, hear or care..  :-X
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: CameronD on 07/17/2017 05:50 am
In today's news:

Hypervelocity HIFiRE missile tests at Woomera counter ‘future threats’

http://www.news.com.au/technology/science/hyperveolocity-hirise-missile-tests-at-woomera-counter-future-threats/news-story/a2fdd3b662999264ebe701a1707cdd0e

and from the source:
https://www.uq.edu.au/news/article/2017/07/hypersonic-flight-test-goes-rocket
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPOK3R-JtwI

I do find it amusing that the UQ article starts by saying "Commercialised flight faster than five times the speed of sound has been brought one step closer.." but then links to the above video of the launch with DoD end credits... Heh. ::)
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 07/17/2017 09:52 am
One of the troubles with hypersonic systems is people don't compare like with like.

Experimental SCramjets seem to have about a T/W ratio of about 2 or 3:1.

The J58 engine and nacelle package on the SR71 was around 2.5:1 (and you really need that nacelle to make the whole concept work).

But
1) That package could fly the aircraft from a standing standing start on the runway.
2) The aircraft leaked a lot until it had warmed up enough for the plates to seal (as did Concorde BTW). It was not an issue because JP7 did not burn without substantial effort.
3) JP7 required a separate logistics supply chain to deliver it, including dedicated tanker aircraft.
3) ConOps for the SR71 was to takeoff mostly empty and require air to air refueling for most fuel loading.  This lowered the fire hazard but also would have lowered the landing gear strength requirements significantly.

All of which was acceptable in the Cold War for the unique capabilities it gave the US at the time.

JP 7 has been out of production for decades and was several times more expensive than conventional fuel.

SCramjets can't accelerate a plane from a standing start, and given the 80+ years people have worked on ramjets they probably never will.

That ConOps  won't work with aircraft carriers. It's never been made to work with any civilian aircraft and if you require the aircraft to run on a fuel that's not liquid at room temperature (LH2 or Methane)  that's a complete non starter.

I strongly doubt the "SR72" is anywhere close to being built, despite what LM will no doubt say.
Title: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 07/18/2017 04:41 pm
One of the troubles with hypersonic systems is people don't compare like with like.

Experimental SCramjets seem to have about a T/W ratio of about 2 or 3:1.

The J58 engine and nacelle package on the SR71 was around 2.5:1 (and you really need that nacelle to make the whole concept work).

But
1) That package could fly the aircraft from a standing standing start on the runway.
2) The aircraft leaked a lot until it had warmed up enough for the plates to seal (as did Concorde BTW). It was not an issue because JP7 did not burn without substantial effort.
3) JP7 required a separate logistics supply chain to deliver it, including dedicated tanker aircraft.
3) ConOps for the SR71 was to takeoff mostly empty and require air to air refueling for most fuel loading.  This lowered the fire hazard but also would have lowered the landing gear strength requirements significantly.

All of which was acceptable in the Cold War for the unique capabilities it gave the US at the time.

JP 7 has been out of production for decades and was several times more expensive than conventional fuel.

SCramjets can't accelerate a plane from a standing start, and given the 80+ years people have worked on ramjets they probably never will.

That ConOps  won't work with aircraft carriers. It's never been made to work with any civilian aircraft and if you require the aircraft to run on a fuel that's not liquid at room temperature (LH2 or Methane)  that's a complete non starter.

I strongly doubt the "SR72" is anywhere close to being built, despite what LM will no doubt say.
As it's a highly classified program for the most part starting what is or isn't possible within it is a fools errand.

All this post does is seemingly point out your pre-existing prejudices on the topic.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 07/19/2017 11:08 am

As it's a highly classified program for the most part starting what is or isn't possible within it is a fools errand.
It's a non existent programme.

LM's PR offensive has been to get it to get their Powerpoint funded. 

The days when the CIA could build (literally) a squadron of very large M3+ planes in a few years in near complete secrecy are over.

I think the fact that every SCramjet that has ever been flight tested has flown on a rocket (despite at least 6 decades of research and several $Bn spent on the concept) first says a great deal about the viability of the idea.
Title: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 08/01/2017 12:50 pm
U.S. Air Force Plans Road Map To Operational Hypersonics
 (http://aviationweek.com/aviation-week-space-technology/us-air-force-plans-road-map-operational-hypersonics)



Quote
....Tucker’s optimism is based on a dramatic upswing in the Air Force hypersonic research budget. Compared to 2012, when the Air Force spent just under $79 million on hypersonic science and technology programs, the service requested more than $292 million for the same areas in the 2018 presidential budget. Of this, $90 million was requested for prototyping.

While a number of classified hypersonic missile efforts are thought to be underway in the U.S., the only acknowledged committed government research developments are a series of technology demonstrator programs led by DARPA. These include two high-speed strike weapons: the Tactical Boost Glide (TBG) program and the Hypersonic Air-Breathing Weapon (HAWC). The TBG is a follow-on to the unsuccessful HTV-2 hypersonic cruise vehicle demonstrator and is a rocket-launched hypersonic weapon capable of flying more than 1,000 mi. in 10 min. The TBG, in development by Lockheed Martin, is attempting to repackage the high lift-to-drag aerodynamic and aerothermal design concepts of the global-range HTV-2 into a smaller, tactical-range weapon

Raytheon Missile Systems and Lockheed Martin are meanwhile competing for the HAWC, a follow-on to the Air Force Research Laboratory’s (AFRL) successful Boeing X-51A WaveRider hypersonic scramjet engine demonstrator.

Leveraging elements of these DARPA/AFRL efforts, the Air Force has meanwhile begun efforts to develop an air-launched Hypersonic Conventional Strike Weapon. Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon Missile Systems and Orbital ATK have all been listed as potential developers of the precision strike missile, which the service says will be fired at “high-value, time-critical fixed and relocatable surface targets.” A contract for development of the weapon—which will be conventionally armed, powered by solid rocket and guided by an integrated GPS/INS (inertial guidance system)—will be awarded in early 2018.

Beyond missiles and XS-1, DARPA’s other major hypersonic program is the Advanced Full-Range Engine (AFRE), a ground demonstrator of a turbine-based combined-cycle engine that will enable an aircraft to operate at Mach 5+ from standard runways. Launched 18 months ago, AFRE is a “full-scale engine, and will validate [that] we can have an effective engine,” says DARPA Tactical Technology Office Director Brad Tousley. “We need the same sort of thing as the J58 was in the SR-71, and AFRE is the same sort of thing. If that is successful, we think it would open up the trade space for us to work together with the Air Force, the U.S. Navy and others on a really ‘no-kidding’ reusable hypersonic aircraft......
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 08/12/2017 08:58 am
Looking over the Broad Agency Announcement for the Advanced Full Range Engine

DARPA-BAA-16-45

https://www.fbo.gov/utils/view?id=abd1d7a237bbb47d78de5d722a9d7fca

We find
Quote
A TBCC system combines a turbine engine for low-speed operations with a dual
mode ramjet (DMRJ) for high-speed operations via a common inlet and nozzle serving
both the low-speed and high-speed flowpaths."
and
Quote
DARPA is only interested in proposals addressing full system solutions for AFRE.

DARPA is not interested in lower Mach solutions such as a turbo-ramjet or
solutions that use accelerants.
So basically it's a SCRamjet or nothing,despite the fact Ramjets have been demonstrated to operate to Mach 5 already.  :(
Quote
TBCC Maturation activities (Water Injection with an F405-RR-402 Turbine Engine and
the Low Mach DMRJ Free-Jet) as they become available
Looking that up we find

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolls-Royce_Turbomeca_Adour
Quote
F405-RR-402 - Upgrade of F405-RR-401, incorporating Mk 951 technology, certified 2008. Did not enter into service due to funding issues.
Which means it is a non after-burning low BP turbofan of 6500 lbf thrust, redesigned for longer service life and a new FADEC.

This looks like a USN engine upgrade programme that did not get funded, so the engine is a one off, although no doubt more could be made.

That sketches in a single engine drone (AFAIK all the aircraft that use it are twin engined).
The US consultancy that looked at a SABRE based TSTO for the USAF reckoned you need aengine thrust = 50% of GTOW to go supersonic so that gives a GTOW of about 13 000 lb

I don't really see why they don't just hand the money to Aerojet. It's basically written so they are the only people who can win this.  :(
Title: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 08/12/2017 09:25 am
Let's see DARPA Vs some random person on the internet, let me think who is the more likely to know what is actually required for this particular item.

I think we'd already established you don't like scramjets so there's nothing new here.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 08/12/2017 10:14 am
Let's see DARPA Vs some random person on the internet, let me think who is the more likely to know what is actually required for this particular item.
It's research.

No one actually knows what's required till they actually start doing it.

That said most people would think that after 6 decades and about $4Bn the USG might have a better idea.
Note that expenditure.

It's not that SCRamjets have had no funding. It's that they have had a huge amount of cash put in over decades and they still haven't delivered anything close to an engine, let alone a vehicle to carry it.

Quote from: Star One
I think we'd already established you don't like scramjets so there's nothing new here.
I'm sorry your mind is so closed that that is all you could read into my post.  I posted it here because, y'know its about "general hypersonic" stuff.

And because this actually looks like the power plant for the fabled SR72.

I will be very impressed to see a full scale ground test of an engine across 5 Mach numbers, since SABRE was developed to avoid precisely that requirement, given how difficult it is (I'd love to find out what Arnold spent on the APTU upgrade).

I will be even more impressed if they manage to put it into a vehicle that weighs less than 13 000lb for $65m.

To put this in perspective what I have trouble with is the absolute insistence that a ramjet cannot do the job, despite the fact that the J58 and its nacelle could get 70% of the way to M5 before the first SCramjet contract was signed at the APL.  :(

It's not the goal I object to.  :(

It's the absolute, fanatical, dogmatic insistence that only an  SCramjet can do this, when the actual operating range of conventional ramjets has still not been established.

[EDIT it's especially odd when you see (from the BAA) that they don't require start up of the DMRJ below M2.5. Given that ramjets of the 1950's could cruise at M2 this is not especially low. Indeed 3 Mach numbers puts it at M5.5 without any SC requirement. M2 startup would put it comfortably within the state of practice for high performance military aircraft, without the following features.

Now note
http://www.tailsthroughtime.com/2012/07/the-mach-3-phantom.html
https://tacairnet.com/2015/06/18/redeveloping-the-f-4-phantom-ii-into-a-mach-3-fighterspy-plane/

Running a far more conventional turbofan up to M3 was viewed as quite viable, with pre compressor cooling, 40 years ago. The SCramjet would have to give phenomenal improvements in fuel consumption, along with operating without exotic fuel grades like JP7, to justify it's inclusion in a design. ]

That's why people have called them "scamjets" in the past.  :(
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Hog on 08/14/2017 05:45 pm
I realize that the SR-71 and YF-12 were short of the true definition of hypersonic(IIRC Hypersonic relates to Mach 5 and above).
If the Mach 3+ SR-71/YF-12 were still operational, would NASA have enough demand for testing at over Mach 3 to keep at least a pair of them airworthy?
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 08/18/2017 11:30 am
Captive-Carry Tests Coming For Hypersonic Flying Testbed

With demand for high-speed test capability on the increase, small launch-vehicle developer Generation Orbit Launch Services is preparing for a critical series of hot-fire and captive-carry flight tests of its hypersonic flying testbed at Edwards AFB, California. The Atlanta-based company is developing the GOLauncher 1 (GO1) vehicle for suborbital research and hypersonic flight-testing, and aims to fill a gap in high-speed atmospheric test capability which has existed since the retirement of ...

http://m.aviationweek.com/aircraft-design/captive-carry-tests-coming-hypersonic-flying-testbed
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 08/22/2017 06:26 am
Captive-Carry Tests Coming For Hypersonic Flying Testbed

With demand for high-speed test capability on the increase, small launch-vehicle developer Generation Orbit Launch Services is preparing for a critical series of hot-fire and captive-carry flight tests of its hypersonic flying testbed at Edwards AFB, California. The Atlanta-based company is developing the GOLauncher 1 (GO1) vehicle for suborbital research and hypersonic flight-testing, and aims to fill a gap in high-speed atmospheric test capability which has existed since the retirement of ...

http://m.aviationweek.com/aircraft-design/captive-carry-tests-coming-hypersonic-flying-testbed
Looks quite similar to the Orbital Access TSTO LV concept, but without the internal payload bay or the reusability.

Time will tell who is better at raising funding and which is the better business model.
Title: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 09/05/2017 07:58 am
Wonder if this line in the budget could be referencing the development of a boost-glide weapon. Interesting that they are also developing their own independent space situational awareness program as well.

Quote
the development of a high-speed glide bomb for use in contingencies on such islands (10 billion yen); the development of a system to monitor space activity (4.4 billion yen).

http://thediplomat.com/2017/08/whats-in-japans-record-2018-defense-budget-request/
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 09/06/2017 04:13 pm
Wonder if this line in the budget could be referencing the development of a boost-glide weapon. Interesting that they are also developing their own independent space situational awareness program as well.

Quote
the development of a high-speed glide bomb for use in contingencies on such islands (10 billion yen); the development of a system to monitor space activity (4.4 billion yen).

http://thediplomat.com/2017/08/whats-in-japans-record-2018-defense-budget-request/
If there isn't a boost phase it will basically be like the "paveway" kit fitted to conventional bombs.

The "space activity monitoring" part may well integrate with the plans to deploy a version of the Aegis system ashore, along with Patriot batteries. 

The timing is odd as presumably all this was in the works for some time before the North Koreans sent an ICBM over their islands, which would make any country very nervous.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 09/06/2017 04:17 pm
Wonder if this line in the budget could be referencing the development of a boost-glide weapon. Interesting that they are also developing their own independent space situational awareness program as well.

Quote
the development of a high-speed glide bomb for use in contingencies on such islands (10 billion yen); the development of a system to monitor space activity (4.4 billion yen).

http://thediplomat.com/2017/08/whats-in-japans-record-2018-defense-budget-request/
If there isn't a boost phase it will basically be like the "paveway" kit fitted to conventional bombs.

The "space activity monitoring" part may well integrate with the plans to deploy a version of the Aegis system ashore, along with Patriot batteries. 

The timing is odd as presumably all this was in the works for some time before the North Koreans sent an ICBM over their islands, which would make any country very nervous.

Wouldn't hypersonic weapons be quite attractive to the Japanese military considering the country's commitment regarding not being a nuclear military power, but still allowing them to have a one hit weapon to take out well protected targets.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: CameronD on 09/07/2017 07:09 am
Wouldn't hypersonic weapons be quite attractive to the Japanese military considering the country's commitment regarding not being a nuclear military power, but still allowing them to have a one hit weapon to take out well protected targets.

Sure.. but, based on recent news events, they kinda need it now (not in several years time).
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 09/07/2017 09:21 am
Sure.. but, based on recent news events, they kinda need it now (not in several years time).
Putting Aegis on shore (or Patriot) gives you missiles roughly in the M2.8-3.5 range as quickly as a deal can be agreed and production arranged.

The Japanese seem to have at least one SAM capable of M2.8.

"boost glide" is quite a loose term. Technically speaking artillery and mortars are also "boost glide" weapons, and anti tank guns can reach M5 muzzle velocities, which you would need for a hypersonic boost glide weapon.

Depending on the design approach Japan might be able to field a weapon surprisingly quickly given suitable motivation. I think the North Korean ICBM test would be suitable motivation.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 09/10/2017 12:43 am
Somewhat more on topic I found a report on  this, which I present without comment, from the Georgia Inst of Technology.


http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.526.7376&rep=rep1&type=pdf

Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 09/12/2017 04:53 pm
Advanced fuel system to enable hypersonic flight by transferring heat

Quote
Under a very successful Phase I project with the US Air Force, Reaction Systems has identified a fuel and catalyst combination that can undergo a chemical reaction that produces much higher endotherms than currently available with kerosene-based fuels.

Reaction Systems has just been notified of a Phase II award to continue development of the fuel/catalyst system and design a custom heat exchanger/reactor for use in a hypersonic engine.

Reaction Systems has a novel solution to the heat transfer issue that may open the door to practical hypersonic aircraft propulsion.

According to Jeff Engel, COO of Reaction system, in hypersonic flight the combustor temperature gets so high that materials can’t survive in that environment; you have to continually cool the combustor sections. They are developing a fuel system to absorb that heat load from the combustor specifically, so that the final speed of the vehicle is faster.

https://www.nextbigfuture.com/2017/09/advanced-fuel-system-to-enable-hypersonic-flight-by-transferring-heat.html
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 09/28/2017 11:31 am
Amid SR-72 Rumors, Skunk Works Ramps Up Hypersonics

Quote
“Although I can’t go into specifics, let us just say the Skunk Works team in Palmdale, California, is doubling down on our commitment to speed,” says Orlando Carvalho, executive vice president of aeronautics at Lockheed Martin, speaking at the SAE International Aerotech Congress and Exhibition here.

“Simply put, I believe the United States is on the verge of a hypersonics revolution,” he says.

Quote
Referencing ongoing development of the Darpa/U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory Tactical Boost Glide weapon and Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept research program, the latter in competition with Raytheon, Carvalho says, “Over the last decade progress has been moving quickly, and hypersonic technology is clearly becoming apparent to everyone as a game changer. We continue to advance and test technology which will benefit hypersonic flight and are working on multiple programs, including two Darpa efforts. Speed matters, especially when it comes to national security.”


Quote
Skunk Works is believed to be planning the start of FRV development next year, with first flight targeted for 2020. The FRV will be around the same size as an F-22 and powered by a full-scale, combined-cycle engine. However, in the run-up to the demonstrator development, Lockheed is thought to be testing several discrete technologies in a series of ground and flight tests.

According to information provided to Aviation Week, one such technology demonstrator, believed to be an unmanned subscale aircraft, was observed flying into the U.S. Air Force’s Plant 42 at Palmdale, where Skunk Works is headquartered. The vehicle, which was noted landing in the early hours at an unspecified date in late July, was seen with two T-38 escorts. Lockheed Martin declined to comment directly on the sighting.

The company previously has said the follow-on step would be development of a full-scale, twin-engined SR-72. With roughly the same proportions as the SR-71, the larger vehicle would enter flight test in the late 2020s.

“Hypersonics is like stealth. It is a disruptive technology and will enable various platforms to operate at two to three times the speed of the Blackbird,” Carvalho says. “Operational survivability and lethality is the ultimate deterrent. Security classification guidance will only allow us to say the speed is greater than Mach 5.”

http://m.aviationweek.com/defense/amid-sr-72-rumors-skunk-works-ramps-hypersonics
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 09/30/2017 10:30 pm
Further to the above.

Quote
Stephen Trimble @FG_STrim
In 2016, DARPA released a concept of a vehicle that would use the SR-72's propulsion system. Keep your eyes out for this, Antelope Valley.

https://mobile.twitter.com/FG_STrim/status/913813922049818625
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Hog on 10/01/2017 03:55 pm
 Lets remember that the SR-71 was an intelligence gathering craft, as was the MD-21 drone launcher, and the original A-12.  The only variant that was to be weaponized was the YF-12, and it was to be a high speed interceptor, presumably for defense of North America.
Lets be clear that the SR-72s purpose will indeed be purely a weapons platform, defense perhaps, offensive, 100%.
Maybe its just me, but using nomenclature which is identified with an intelligence gathering craft only, for a weaponized platform, could be viewed as disingenuous.  She wont be taking pictures, she will be delivering a "kill shot" of some sort.
It's a shame that many technologies are driven by militarization, but it is a reality as that's where the money is.
Crazy interesting technologies though, wow!  Palmdale is busy.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 10/01/2017 04:20 pm
Lets remember that the SR-71 was an intelligence gathering craft, as was the MD-21 drone launcher, and the original A-12.  The only variant that was to be weaponized was the YF-12, and it was to be a high speed interceptor, presumably for defense of North America.
Lets be clear that the SR-72s purpose will indeed be purely a weapons platform, defense perhaps, offensive, 100%.
Maybe its just me, but using nomenclature which is identified with an intelligence gathering craft only, for a weaponized platform, could be viewed as disingenuous.  She wont be taking pictures, she will be delivering a "kill shot" of some sort.
It's a shame that many technologies are driven by militarization, but it is a reality as that's where the money is.
Crazy interesting technologies though, wow!  Palmdale is busy.

There has been some rumours that the SR-72 designation will not be its final designation. After all technically it’s classed under global strike.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Archibald on 10/01/2017 06:13 pm
The funny thing with the SR-71 is that the -71 is kind of last line in the bomber designation system before they got back to B-1.
What happened was this
XB-70 Valkyrie > RS-70 > SR-71.
RS-70 was a last ditch atempt by North American to rescue the B-70 as a post-strike reconnaissance aircraft. It would have smashed whatever was left standing of USSR after ICBMs rained.

The RS-70 proposal was rejected but Lockheed tried to place down an A-12 variant to the Air Force and this become the SR-71.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 10/01/2017 06:49 pm
The funny thing with the SR-71 is that the -71 is kind of last line in the bomber designation system before they got back to B-1.
What happened was this
XB-70 Valkyrie > RS-70 > SR-71.
RS-70 was a last ditch atempt by North American to rescue the B-70 as a post-strike reconnaissance aircraft. It would have smashed whatever was left standing of USSR after ICBMs rained.

The RS-70 proposal was rejected but Lockheed tried to place down an A-12 variant to the Air Force and this become the SR-71.

As with the U-2 & SR-71 I bet NASA wouldn’t mind a couple of civilian versions of the SR-72 for atmospheric research.
Title: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 10/10/2017 12:39 pm
DARPA Awards Aerojet Rocketdyne Contract to Develop Hypersonic Advanced Full Range Engine

http://www.rocket.com/article/darpa-awards-aerojet-rocketdyne-contract-develop-hypersonic-advanced-full-range-engine

Here’s another article on the award.

Aerojet Rocketdyne To Demo Combined-Cycle Hypersonic Engine

Quote
As the U.S. steps up research and development for hypersonic weapons, DARPA has awarded Aerojet Rocketdyne a contract to demonstrate a turbine-based combined cycle (TBCC) engine that could power a reusable high-speed aircraft from takeoff to beyond Mach ...

Quote
Under the program, large-scale components of the propulsion system will first be demonstrated independently, followed by a full-scale freejet ground test of the TBCC mode transition. Accomplishing these objectives will enable future air-breathing hypersonic systems for long-range strike, high-speed intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, and two-stage-to-orbit space access, DARPA says.

Conceptual design of a hypersonic vehicle was completed in fiscal 2017 to enable definition of the ground demonstration engine performance requirements. Plans for fiscal 2018 include beginning testing of a large-scale common inlet and full-scale DMRJ combustor, completing fabrication of the full-scale common nozzle and beginning integration of the off-the-shelf turbine engine.

http://m.aviationweek.com/defense/aerojet-rocketdyne-demo-combined-cycle-hypersonic-engine
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 10/14/2017 09:51 am
USAF searching for hypersonic vehicle materials

Quote
The US Air Force Research Laboratory is searching for leading edge materials for reusable and expendable hypersonic vehicles to support its high speed strike weapon programme.

Quote
Air Force Materiel Command will consider thermal performance as it selects the material, according to the $2.3 million contract award to Integration Innovation posted 27 September on the Federal Business Opportunities website. Based in Huntsville, Alabama, Integration Innovation Integration has previously worked with the Defense Department and NASA on thermal protection systems supporting hypersonic vehicles.

“The objective of the RX hypersonics programme is to provide a range of materials and processing options for future hypersonic vehicles,” an AFRL spokesman said in a 10 October statement to FlightGlobal.

Leading edges refer to the surfaces that first come in contact at hypersonic speed with the super-heated airflow, such as as the front of the nose, wings and empennage surfaces.

The USAF has proposed $31.2 million in fiscal year 2018 to focus research on high temperature aerospace materials and hypersonics. Budget documents also mention plans to improve fabrication of materials required for expendable hypersonic applications. The FY2018 budget proposal details plans for both re-usable and expendable hypersonic vehicles, including limited life intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance vehicles.

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/usaf-searching-for-hypersonic-vehicle-materials-442171/
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 10/17/2017 01:22 am
I found this little item.

It's the actual review of the NASP programme in late 1992, after it has been running for 5 years

https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19940004890.pdf

The recommendation of this was to spend $100-200m/yr over the next 4 years to build a small scale drone to maybe pin down the unknowns far enough to build a full size flight vehicle.

Particularly interesting is Appendix D (pg 44), which lists where the Joint Project Office was at in 1992 IE what progress they'd made in 5 years.
Page 57 discusses the engine, which seems to be a LACE system up to M3. They describe the aerodynamic performance as "well characterized," but that gives no indication if they got frost control working.

It also talks of "unstart" loads (which IIRC crashed at least one SR71) being 5x to 10x the normal engine loads, with leading edge thermal loads of 100 000 BTU per foot of LE, per second. About 105.5MW/ft of LE

I'll leave others to comment on how much (or little) progress has been made in the 25 years since NASP. 
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 11/08/2017 06:37 am
China Shows Off Hypersonic Vehicle Test Model After US Navy Weapon Test

Quote
Chinese state media has shown what appears to be the first ever images of a physical test object associated with the design of the WU-14 hypersonic glide vehicle, also known as the DF-ZF. Though the two events did not appear to be related, this followed the U.S. Navy’s official disclosure that it had successfully test fired a hypersonic missile design of its own that could fit inside the standard launch tube on an Ohio-class submarine.

On Oct. 8, 2017, state-run broadcaster China Central Television, or CCTV, aired a special that dealt in part with the country’s JF-12 hypersonic wind tunnel. This is the largest testing setup of its kind in the world and can produce air speeds up to Mach 9 thanks to its pulse detonation engine. Interestingly, visible at one point in the presentation was a test shape that looks very similar to artist’s renderings and mockups of the DF-ZF hypersonic vehicle, which is likely the first time the Chinese government has shown an actual test article associated with the program. There are also computer-generated renderings of what appears to be a blended wing body aircraft or drone and a clip of technicians work on what could be a reentry vehicle, or a representative test shape of one, for a nuclear-armed ballistic missile.

http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/15828/china-shows-off-hypersonic-vehicle-test-model-after-us-navy-weapon-test
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 11/08/2017 09:06 am
China Shows Off Hypersonic Vehicle Test Model After US Navy Weapon Test

Quote
Chinese state media has shown what appears to be the first ever images of a physical test object associated with the design of the WU-14 hypersonic glide vehicle, also known as the DF-ZF. Though the two events did not appear to be related, this followed the U.S. Navy’s official disclosure that it had successfully test fired a hypersonic missile design of its own that could fit inside the standard launch tube on an Ohio-class submarine.

On Oct. 8, 2017, state-run broadcaster China Central Television, or CCTV, aired a special that dealt in part with the country’s JF-12 hypersonic wind tunnel. This is the largest testing setup of its kind in the world and can produce air speeds up to Mach 9 thanks to its pulse detonation engine. Interestingly, visible at one point in the presentation was a test shape that looks very similar to artist’s renderings and mockups of the DF-ZF hypersonic vehicle, which is likely the first time the Chinese government has shown an actual test article associated with the program. There are also computer-generated renderings of what appears to be a blended wing body aircraft or drone and a clip of technicians work on what could be a reentry vehicle, or a representative test shape of one, for a nuclear-armed ballistic missile.

http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/15828/china-shows-off-hypersonic-vehicle-test-model-after-us-navy-weapon-test
Which would be astonishing, if correct.

If China actually had a M9 tunnel driven by a PDE you'd have to ask "Why don't they just build a flight weight PDE?"

From the various comments on the YT videos about this (and what I can understand of the video itself) it's a actually shock tunnel driven by combustion (strictly by detonation) of a fuel/oxidizer mix

Detonation driven tunnel <> pulse detonation engine.  :(

However when people think of detonation (or shock) tunnels they think in terms of 10s of cm across. This is huge, giving it a much bigger test section to use (allowing easier to make, and potentially better instrumented models) and (maybe) longer test runs ( in this context 0.1 secs is long. A 1 sec flow would be stunning).   
[EDIT This article has more details.
https://defence.pk/pdf/threads/jf-12-hypersonic-flight-conditions-duplicating-shock-tunnel.205626/

Nozzle exit diameter is 2.5m delivering a 100ms (IE 0.1sec) duration at M5-M9 at 30-40Km altitude.

I don't know enough to say how much of that is actually usable due wall effects on the flow. The model in the photos looked pretty small for something that's fitting in an 8.2 foot wide tube, so presumably they want it to see a very smooth gas front undistorted by the tube it's flowing in. Keep in  mind M9 with M1 at 340m/s is less than 0.4 ms to pass a 1m long object so 100ms is > 250x longer than it should take to establish smooth flow, collect data and have the flow subside ]
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: CameronD on 11/08/2017 09:07 pm
I don't know enough to say how much of that is actually usable due wall effects on the flow. The model in the photos looked pretty small for something that's fitting in an 8.2 foot wide tube, so presumably they want it to see a very smooth gas front undistorted by the tube it's flowing in. Keep in  mind M9 with M1 at 340m/s is less than 0.4 ms to pass a 1m long object so 100ms is > 250x longer than it should take to establish smooth flow, collect data and have the flow subside ]

Accurately instrumenting something much faster than 1ms (required response times in microseconds), whilst not impossible, isn't particularly trivial (ie. cheap) and brings a host of other issues/errors into play, like scan rate and the speed of signals in wires.  Perhaps they're also working at the limits of their instrumentation.
   
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 11/08/2017 09:25 pm
I don't know enough to say how much of that is actually usable due wall effects on the flow. The model in the photos looked pretty small for something that's fitting in an 8.2 foot wide tube, so presumably they want it to see a very smooth gas front undistorted by the tube it's flowing in. Keep in  mind M9 with M1 at 340m/s is less than 0.4 ms to pass a 1m long object so 100ms is > 250x longer than it should take to establish smooth flow, collect data and have the flow subside ]

Accurately instrumenting something much faster than 1ms (required response times in microseconds), whilst not impossible, isn't particularly trivial (ie. cheap) and brings a host of other issues/errors into play, like scan rate and the speed of signals in wires.  Perhaps they're also working at the limits of their instrumentation.
 
Depends on the sensors and their response times.

Consider that a "small disturbance high frequency response pressure sensor" is also called a microphone and such devices were "listening" to the sound of "reentry noise" up to 200 KHz on a reentry vehicle (in a wind tunnel, not actual flight) in the 70's.

Pressure sensitive paint and IR cameras have also raised the number of data points you can collect, along with high temperature IE Sapphire optical fibers.

I'd say the hardware is available but the challenge is scale effects. Mfg all the little holes on the surface so they don't corrupt the signal (painstaking and precise work), hence the attraction of "area" sensors that can read the whole surface.   
Title: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 11/12/2017 08:06 pm
Navy's Ultimate Weapon: Sub-launched Hypersonic Missiles

Quote
Benedict refused to provide any other details of the test, but a Pentagon spokesperson later gave additional information when contacted by U.S. Naval Institute News. “The Navy Strategic Systems Program (SSP), on behalf of the Department of Defense, conducted an Intermediate Range Conventional Prompt Strike Flight Experiment-1 (CPS FE-1) test on Oct. 30, 2017, from Pacific Missile Range Facility, Kauai, Hawaii,” said Cmdr. Patrick Evans, the Pentagon spokesperson. “The test collected data on hypersonic boost-glide technologies and test-range performance for long-range atmospheric flight. This data will be used by the Department of Defense to anchor ground testing, modeling, and simulation of hypersonic flight vehicle performance and is applicable to a range of possible Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) concepts.”

Quote
DOD has promised the Pacific and European combatant commands that certain hypersonic capabilities will be fielded within the timeframe of fiscal year 2018–22. If the Navy’s sea-based hypersonic missile capabilities are realized, they are likely to be deployed on the four Ohio-class guided-missile submarines, as well as the new Virginia-class attack submarines.

https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2017/11/12/navys_ultimate_weapon_sub-launched_hypersonic_missiles_112621.html (https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2017/11/12/navys_ultimate_weapon_sub-launched_hypersonic_missiles_112621.html)

Wonder if the British navy will be seeking a similar capability for our submarines.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 11/12/2017 10:23 pm
Navy's Ultimate Weapon: Sub-launched Hypersonic Missiles

Quote
Benedict refused to provide any other details of the test, but a Pentagon spokesperson later gave additional information when contacted by U.S. Naval Institute News. “The Navy Strategic Systems Program (SSP), on behalf of the Department of Defense, conducted an Intermediate Range Conventional Prompt Strike Flight Experiment-1 (CPS FE-1) test on Oct. 30, 2017, from Pacific Missile Range Facility, Kauai, Hawaii,” said Cmdr. Patrick Evans, the Pentagon spokesperson. “The test collected data on hypersonic boost-glide technologies and test-range performance for long-range atmospheric flight. This data will be used by the Department of Defense to anchor ground testing, modeling, and simulation of hypersonic flight vehicle performance and is applicable to a range of possible Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) concepts.”

Quote
DOD has promised the Pacific and European combatant commands that certain hypersonic capabilities will be fielded within the timeframe of fiscal year 2018–22. If the Navy’s sea-based hypersonic missile capabilities are realized, they are likely to be deployed on the four Ohio-class guided-missile submarines, as well as the new Virginia-class attack submarines.

https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2017/11/12/navys_ultimate_weapon_sub-launched_hypersonic_missiles_112621.html (https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2017/11/12/navys_ultimate_weapon_sub-launched_hypersonic_missiles_112621.html)

Wonder if the British navy will be seeking a similar capability for our submarines.
Note this is a test mission to get baseline data to design a (possible) future weapon system, which may get funded.

It's a long way from anything getting deployed in front line service.

As for the British Navy I think they will be sticking with "run silent, run deep."
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 11/14/2017 04:22 pm
Lawmakers set 2022 target for DOD to field 'early operational' hypersonic strike capability

Quote
Congress will soon vote on a defense policy bill that requires the U.S. military to plan for an "early operational" variant of a hypersonic strike weapon by 2022, setting a new statutory expectation for the Conventional Prompt Strike technology development effort.

The conference version of the House and Senate Armed Services committees' fiscal year 2018 defense authorization bill adopts the position advanced by the House requiring the defense secretary and Joint Chiefs chairman to "plan to reach an early operational capability for the conventional prompt strike weapon system by not later than September 30, 2022."

The Pentagon does not have a formal acquisition program of record for a hypersonic strike capability. The Defense Department is exploring potential boost-glide hypersonic technologies as part of a research and development effort overseen by the office of the secretary of defense, a project that has spent nearly $1 billion to date, with plans to allocate another $1.2 billion over the next five years.

In accordance with congressional guidance in the FY-16 National Defense Authorization Act, DOD plans a materiel development decision for a Conventional Prompt Strike capability in FY-20, the initial gateway to a formal acquisition effort.

The final FY-18 defense policy bill scrapped a House-proposed provisions to fence half the funding for the Conventional Prompt Strike program in the current fiscal year until the Pentagon provides lawmakers a report on the program, opting instead to set a 180-day deadline for the delivery of the report after the bill is enacted.

The report, which is to be prepared by the Joint Chiefs chairman in consultation with the heads of U.S. European, Pacific and Strategic commands, is to outline "the required level of resources that is consistent with the level of priority associated to the capability gap."

The required Pentagon appraisal is also to outline "the estimated period for the delivery of a medium-range early operational capability [and] the required level of resources necessary to field a medium-range conventional prompt strike weapon within the United States (including the territories and possessions of the United States) or a similar sea-based system."

In addition, the report is to address plans to ensure interoperability among any joint military hypersonic strike capabilities as well as plans -- including policy options -- "considered appropriate to address any potential risks of ambiguity from the launch or employment of such a capability."

The Joint Requirements Oversight Council, led by Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Paul Selva, last year assured the heads of U.S. European and Pacific commands, who are watching China and Russia routinely flight test high-speed weapons, that "certain" hypersonic strike capabilities would be fielded within the FY-17 to FY-22 future years defense plan.

Then-Defense Secretary Ash Carter, in written responses to Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-AL) following a March 4, 2016, hearing of the House Appropriations defense subcommittee, explained DOD had promised commanders in Europe and the Pacific an initial hypersonic strike capability between FY-18 and FY-22.

Aderholt had asked whether any combatant commanders had formally identified a need for a Conventional Prompt Global Strike capability, or the means to strike targets anywhere on earth in as little as an hour.

Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti, EUCOM chief, and Adm. Harry Harris, PACOM head, according to Carter, both "submitted high-priority requirements for these capabilities" as part of the routine process combatant commanders use to influence Pentagon resource decisions, in this case the shape of the FY-18 budget and the accompanying five-year spending plan.

https://insidedefense.com/daily-news/lawmakers-set-2022-target-dod-field-early-operational-hypersonic-strike-capability
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 11/24/2017 08:06 am
How hypersonic flight could transform air combat

A few highlights from the article.

Quote
The next, planned for 2019, will fly a Hyshot vehicle horizontally under its own power, for up to a minute at around Mach 8. Achieving hypersonic speed without a rocket, however, calls for a very different kind of engine.

Quote
Technology convergence too could play a part in the uptake of hypersonic flight in a combat role. The meteoric rise of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) over recent years and their widespread deployment across virtually the entire mission spectrum has brought the day when all fighter pilots will have been well and truly removed from their cockpits ever closer. It is arguably a much bigger step from the autonomous take-offs, landings and refuellings of the US Navy’s record-setting, carrier-based ‘Salty Dog’ to Lockheed’s SR-72 unmanned hypersonic spy plane, which could be operational by 2030, than from the SR-72 to hypersonic fighter drones.

The future of manned/unmanned fighters aside, the most immediate military application of hypersonic flight technology would seem likely to be in a new generation of missiles.

Quote
With so much to be gained, the US does not have the monopoly on hypersonic missile development and both Russia and China are known to be working on similar projects, although the details are seldom made public.  Never-the-less, Obnosov, has said that he fully expects air-launched hypersonic missiles capable of reaching Mach 6 to 8 to be ready as soon as 2020, in time for the new Tupolev PAK-DA strategic bombers due to enter service in 2023. He expects faster missiles will follow, and then piloted hypersonic aircraft around 2030 or 2040. Long before that, Russian Kirov-class cruisers are likely to be fielding the 3K-22M Zircon hypersonic cruise missile, with serial production of this scramjet-powered, anti-ship weapon scheduled to begin in 2018.

Chinese hypersonic programmes are even more opaque, but it appears that China is actively pursuing the technology, not least with the WU-14 glider, which is rumoured to be set for production towards the end of the 2020s.

http://www.airforce-technology.com/features/hypersonic-flight-transform-air-combat/
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: chrisking0997 on 12/01/2017 07:08 pm
Im going to add this to this thread because I cant find any info anywhere else on it.  Does anyone know anything about a Hypersonic Technology Project at NASA?  I cant find anything online about it, but I just saw something to do with it here at Langley.  Curious if this is a new project or something I just have never heard of
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 12/01/2017 10:01 pm
Im going to add this to this thread because I cant find any info anywhere else on it.  Does anyone know anything about a Hypersonic Technology Project at NASA?  I cant find anything online about it, but I just saw something to do with it here at Langley.  Curious if this is a new project or something I just have never heard of
Langley appears to be chock full of hypersonic testing equipment.

https://hapb-www.larc.nasa.gov/Public/Documents/Japan_paper_1.21.pdf

So there's probably something going somewhere on site.

There are lots of things about hypersonics that still need research. The question is wheather they are  going to be funded or wheather any researchers are going to bother.

The only thing that comes up is this

https://www.nasa.gov/aeroresearch/programs/aavp/ht

AIUI this is not a description of the branch. It is an (outline) description of the current tasks of the project. It looks either it's in its very early stages or there will be limited public information due to the DoD involvment.

Chuck Leonard
Project Manager (PM)

Paul Bartolotta
Deputy PM

Would appear to be the the people to be speaking to.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 12/05/2017 07:40 pm
Hypersonic research could lead to future spy drone

Quote
The Air Force Research Laboratory has awarded a $9.8 million contract to the University of Dayton Research Institute to develop materials able to withstand the extremes of hypersonic flight.

The Air Force could use the advanced composites in a high-flying unmanned reusable reconnaissance air vehicle by the 2030s, according to Robert Mercier, chief engineer for AFRL’s high speed systems division in the Aerospace Systems Directorate at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

“We’re looking for something that will give us more airplane-like operations,” he said. “In our research portfolio, we’re looking at ways to do more frequent and affordable flying of hypersonic systems.”

Flying at five times the speed of sound – the barrier to hypersonic flight – or faster, stresses materials with both high temperatures and pressures, researchers say.

http://www.whio.com/news/local-military/hypersonic-research-could-lead-future-spy-drone/rOaqyurXUU0rZ0aM1Aj1xL/
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 01/02/2018 07:30 am
Introducing the DF-17: China's Newly Tested Ballistic Missile Armed With a Hypersonic Glide Vehicle

Quote
The DF-17 is the first hypersonic glide vehicle-equipped missile intended for operational deployment ever tested.

https://thediplomat.com/2017/12/introducing-the-df-17-chinas-newly-tested-ballistic-missile-armed-with-a-hypersonic-glide-vehicle/
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 01/03/2018 03:31 pm
Introducing the DF-17: China's Newly Tested Ballistic Missile Armed With a Hypersonic Glide Vehicle

Quote
The DF-17 is the first hypersonic glide vehicle-equipped missile intended for operational deployment ever tested.

https://thediplomat.com/2017/12/introducing-the-df-17-chinas-newly-tested-ballistic-missile-armed-with-a-hypersonic-glide-vehicle/
You appeared to have posted the same story twice.

Was that your intention?

So ballistic missile (which can be detected using BM EW system technology already) can launch (also detectable with current technology) a hypersonic glider.

Which by definition will have a massive IR footprint.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 01/03/2018 03:56 pm
Introducing the DF-17: China's Newly Tested Ballistic Missile Armed With a Hypersonic Glide Vehicle

Quote
The DF-17 is the first hypersonic glide vehicle-equipped missile intended for operational deployment ever tested.

https://thediplomat.com/2017/12/introducing-the-df-17-chinas-newly-tested-ballistic-missile-armed-with-a-hypersonic-glide-vehicle/
You appeared to have posted the same story twice.

Was that your intention?

So ballistic missile (which can be detected using BM EW system technology already) can launch (also detectable with current technology) a hypersonic glider.

Which by definition will have a massive IR footprint.

This post in error has now been removed. Sorry.
Title: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 01/12/2018 09:37 am
Now this is an unexpected development.

Boeing Unveils Hypersonic ‘Son-Of-Blackbird’ Contender

Quote
ORLANDO, Florida—Amid continuing signs of a significant upswing in U.S. hypersonic research and development, Boeing has revealed first details of a reusable Mach 5-plus demonstrator vehicle design that could pave the way for a future high-speed strike and reconnaissance ...

Quote
Although initially independently funded by Boeing, development of the hypersonic vehicle concept is continuing under Darpa’s Advanced Full Range Engine (AFRE) initiative and a closely-related turbine-based combined cycle (TBCC) flight demonstration concept study run by the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory. Boeing’s engine partner for the concept is Orbital ATK, which in September 2017 was awarded a $21.4 million contract for the AFRE program. Boeing began work on the AFRL TBCC flight demonstrator concept study, with Orbital ATK as a subcontractor, in 2016.

Quote
“The propulsion system determines the length of the vehicle,” says Tom Smith, Boeing Research and Technology chief hypersonic aircraft designer. Although Boeing declines to discuss specific aspects of the design, the broad inlets and wide lower fuselage-mounted nacelle suggest the turbine and DMRJ in each TBCC engine are housed side-by-side rather than arranged in an over-under configuration.

The inward-turning inlets are positioned to capture the initial shockwave from the nose of the vehicle, while the sharply swept forebody chines are contoured into the relatively large-span delta wing to provide waveriding capability at hypersonic speed and sufficient lift for landing and takeoff at subsonic speed. The term waverider refers to a design in which the vehicle rides the shockwave attached to the leading edge, thus benefiting from lower induced drag. “As the narrow chine transitions to the wing, that produces a good vortex, which you care about at low speed,” Smith says.

http://m.aviationweek.com/defense/boeing-unveils-hypersonic-son-blackbird-contender
Title: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 01/12/2018 07:53 pm
New article with a Boeing illustration of the concept.

http://www.popularmechanics.com/military/aviation/amp15070935/boeing-hypersonic-concept-replace-sr-71-blackbird/

As for LM now here’s a interesting recent comment.

Quote
Jack O’Banion, Vice President of Strategy and Customer Requirements, Advanced Development Programs for Lockheed Martin, at a presentation said that the SR72 could not have been made without digital transformation. This seems to indicate that a hypersonic vehicle has been built.

https://www.nextbigfuture.com/2018/01/lockheed-may-have-completed-a-prototype-hypersonic-sr72.html
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: RotoSequence on 01/16/2018 04:21 pm
New article with a Boeing illustration of the concept.

http://www.popularmechanics.com/military/aviation/amp15070935/boeing-hypersonic-concept-replace-sr-71-blackbird/

As for LM now here’s a interesting recent comment.

Quote
Jack O’Banion, Vice President of Strategy and Customer Requirements, Advanced Development Programs for Lockheed Martin, at a presentation said that the SR72 could not have been made without digital transformation. This seems to indicate that a hypersonic vehicle has been built.

https://www.nextbigfuture.com/2018/01/lockheed-may-have-completed-a-prototype-hypersonic-sr72.html

The only twist we need now is that both aircraft were already built, and Northrop Grumman won the competition with an as yet classified third entry.  ;D
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: leovinus on 01/17/2018 11:03 pm
New article with a Boeing illustration of the concept.

http://www.popularmechanics.com/military/aviation/amp15070935/boeing-hypersonic-concept-replace-sr-71-blackbird/

As for LM now here’s a interesting recent comment.

Quote
Jack O’Banion, Vice President of Strategy and Customer Requirements, Advanced Development Programs for Lockheed Martin, at a presentation said that the SR72 could not have been made without digital transformation. This seems to indicate that a hypersonic vehicle has been built.

https://www.nextbigfuture.com/2018/01/lockheed-may-have-completed-a-prototype-hypersonic-sr72.html

A Bloomberg article on the recent LM comments.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-01-16/america-s-fastest-spy-plane-may-be-back-and-hypersonic (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-01-16/america-s-fastest-spy-plane-may-be-back-and-hypersonic)

In particular, I liked this quote from the same O’Banion as I have not seen this mentioned before (but might have missed it)

Quote
“But now we can digitally print that engine with an incredibly sophisticated cooling system integral into the material of the engine itself and have that engine survive for multiple firings for routine operation.” 

It almost sounds like they'll cool the turbine blades, or some pre-cooling system. Am curious whether this is similar to SABRE.
Title: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 01/17/2018 11:08 pm
New article with a Boeing illustration of the concept.

http://www.popularmechanics.com/military/aviation/amp15070935/boeing-hypersonic-concept-replace-sr-71-blackbird/

As for LM now here’s a interesting recent comment.

Quote
Jack O’Banion, Vice President of Strategy and Customer Requirements, Advanced Development Programs for Lockheed Martin, at a presentation said that the SR72 could not have been made without digital transformation. This seems to indicate that a hypersonic vehicle has been built.

https://www.nextbigfuture.com/2018/01/lockheed-may-have-completed-a-prototype-hypersonic-sr72.html

A Bloomberg article on the recent LM comments.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-01-16/america-s-fastest-spy-plane-may-be-back-and-hypersonic (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-01-16/america-s-fastest-spy-plane-may-be-back-and-hypersonic)

In particular, I liked this quote from the same O’Banion as I have not seen this mentioned before (but might have missed it)

Quote
“But now we can digitally print that engine with an incredibly sophisticated cooling system integral into the material of the engine itself and have that engine survive for multiple firings for routine operation.” 

It almost sounds like they'll cool the turbine blades, or some pre-cooling system. Am curious whether this is similar to SABRE.

Taking these quotes as a whole it certainly sounds like they may have at the very least built either a technology demonstrator or full prototype.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Asteroza on 01/18/2018 06:25 am
That or they at least have a boilerplate version, not flightweight yet, that can be reused without refurbishment...
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 01/18/2018 04:03 pm
That or they at least have a boilerplate version, not flightweight yet, that can be reused without refurbishment...

Seems like there is a roughly a two/three year delay on their stated goals, so reaching point A for example quoted to be achieved in 2020 actually means 2017/2018 etc.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 01/23/2018 12:14 am
I came across this

https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19920012274

It's the "Tutorial Session" to the "RBCC Workshop" held in 1992.

Basically it's a brain dump of most of the key players (or their colleagues) who were active in the US hypersonics or high speed combined cycle communities during the 1960's and 1970's done shortly after the end of the NASP programme sunk close to $3Bn in then year dollars.  It's got quite a lot of stuff about the actual making of systems to operate in these environments, and their testing, by people who actually did it.

The stuff about NASP makes particularly amusing reading with various papers "Not ready at time of deadline" and the rest long on goals but pretty short on achievements.

Which is impressive for a programme that spent so much before an independent assessment found there wo many bugs in its business case it should never have been started.  :(
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 01/23/2018 06:51 am
I don’t think this has been posted previously on here.

Hypersonic research could lead to future spy drone

Quote
DAYTON — The Air Force Research Laboratory has awarded a $9.8 million contract to the University of Dayton Research Institute to develop materials able to withstand the extremes of hypersonic flight.

http://www.whio.com/news/local-military/hypersonic-research-could-lead-future-spy-drone/rOaqyurXUU0rZ0aM1Aj1xL/
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 01/25/2018 06:51 am
Hypersonic Race Heats With Boeing Reusable Demonstrator Concept

Quote
Boeing is raising the stakes in the accelerating race for U.S. hypersonic leadership by positioning itself to develop a potential future Mach 5-plus strike-and-reconnaissance aircraft. The move, which was signaled by the unexpected unveiling of a reusable hypersonic demonstrator concept vehicle at an aerospace science and research conference in Florida in early January, directly challenges Lockheed Martin. In 2013, Lockheed revealed plans to develop a Mach 6 successor to the long-retired ...

http://m.aviationweek.com/future-aerospace/hypersonic-race-heats-boeing-reusable-demonstrator-concept
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: jee_c2 on 01/29/2018 07:11 am
Chineese resaerch  (suggestion) of new airframe and wing  configuration for hypersonic airplanes: http://www.spacedaily.com/m/reports/A_new_family_of_aerodynamic_configurations_of_hypersonic_airplanes_999.html
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 01/30/2018 10:11 pm
Chineese resaerch  (suggestion) of new airframe and wing  configuration for hypersonic airplanes: http://www.spacedaily.com/m/reports/A_new_family_of_aerodynamic_configurations_of_hypersonic_airplanes_999.html
IIRC the idea of "hypersonic biplanes" was looked at in the 1950's and 60's. AFAIK no looked at the inverse, Merging the two side supports into a central support, like an I beam.

This looks like it really could be a new approach to hypersonic vehicle design.

The joker in the pack is of course how the wing tips respond to hypersonic airflow and how much mass is needed to keep them stiff enough to avoid issues.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 02/01/2018 08:36 pm
US Losing Its Advantage in Race for Hypersonic Technology: Selva

Quote
Did the U.S. military miss its window of opportunity to beat out adversaries in hypersonics development?

That depends on what the U.S. chooses to build even as Russia and China are rapidly advancing the technology, according to the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.


"We have lost our technical advantage in hypersonics; we haven't lost the hypersonics fight," Air Force Gen. Paul Selva told reporters Tuesday during a roundtable discussion in Washington, D.C.

"China has made it a national program, so China's willing to spend tens to up to hundreds of billions to solve the problem of hypersonic flight, hypersonic target designation, and then ultimately engagement," he said.

https://www.military.com/defensetech/2018/01/31/us-losing-its-advantage-race-hypersonic-technology-selva.html?ESRC=dod-bz.nl&spMailingID=1222495&spUserID=Mjk3OTgyNTY0MzkS1&spJobID=480019819&spReportId=NDgwMDE5ODE5S0
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 02/02/2018 07:55 pm
US Losing Its Advantage in Race for Hypersonic Technology: Selva

Quote
Did the U.S. military miss its window of opportunity to beat out adversaries in hypersonics development?

That depends on what the U.S. chooses to build even as Russia and China are rapidly advancing the technology, according to the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.


"We have lost our technical advantage in hypersonics; we haven't lost the hypersonics fight," Air Force Gen. Paul Selva told reporters Tuesday during a roundtable discussion in Washington, D.C.

"China has made it a national program, so China's willing to spend tens to up to hundreds of billions to solve the problem of hypersonic flight, hypersonic target designation, and then ultimately engagement," he said.

https://www.military.com/defensetech/2018/01/31/us-losing-its-advantage-race-hypersonic-technology-selva.html?ESRC=dod-bz.nl&spMailingID=1222495&spUserID=Mjk3OTgyNTY0MzkS1&spJobID=480019819&spReportId=NDgwMDE5ODE5S0
This is excellent news.

NASP consumed close to $3Bn in 1992 $. Close to $5.5bn in today's money.  This should sink a good $10Bn at least.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 02/22/2018 07:55 pm
Pentagon budget 2019: Russian, Chinese hypersonics emerge as clear concern

http://www.janes.com/article/78096/pentagon-budget-2019-russian-chinese-hypersonics-emerge-as-clear-concern
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Lar on 02/22/2018 08:39 pm
This is excellent news.

NASP consumed close to $3Bn in 1992 $. Close to $5.5bn in today's money.  This should sink a good $10Bn at least.
Either you have an interesting definition of "excellent news" or my sarcasm detector is malfunctioning again.

I do wonder why they keep trying this while a tech that actually might work (SABRE) seems starved for investment.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 02/24/2018 09:47 am
Either you have an interesting definition of "excellent news" or my sarcasm detector is malfunctioning again.
It's excellent news if you want the Chinese government to waste a very large sum of money on a wild goose chase.
Quote from: Lar

I do wonder why they keep trying this
As Francois Truffaut character in Close Encounters of the Third Kind puts it "It is en affaire sociologique" IOW
A toxic mix of (semi) plausible arguments (that a child can follow), seductive maths and group think.

How could so many learned people be wrong? The answer is the same way the people who studied Phrenology or Eugenics could be.  :(

SCramjet research is like a "Grail quest".
The endlessly long list of hints that maybe will lead to a solution.
The vast riches and glory to the discoverer at the end.
If we just try a little harder. If we just had a little bit faster computers. We are so close. If, if,if.
Add in a few researchers who might not be overly scrupulous in checking their assumptions and an Air Force general with a large budget and keen desire that "Something must be done" and the rest is history.  :(

Then of course there is the huge Kudos of doing something the US has spent (since Johns Hopkins APL work in 1960)  North of $10Bn (in 2018 $) to do and still failed to deliver an operational vehicle with.
The dream that we will be the Wright Brothers successful efforts to the USG's lavishly funded (but failed) efforts to build a "Heavier than air flying machine."

Note that IRL rockets and regular ramjets have got operational flight vehicles up to M5+ for decades and AFAIK no one has really tried to find the upper limit of conventional ramjet action, or even what a viable Mach operating range is. 3 Mach numbers is a "rule of thumb" that does not seem to have a reference basis beyond "After that we have to start to think seriously about the problems."

Hypersonic flight is a challenging field in terms of aerodynamics and structures that can survive prolonged (greater than 15 minutes roughly) without refurbishment at reasonable weight.
OTOH SCramjet development continues to look like a bottomless money pit.

When a SCramjet proponent writing in Aerospace America says essentially "The only way to develop a full size SCramjet aircraft is to do develop a full size SCramjet aircraft,"  because between the uncertainties of the maths driving the CFD simulations and the scale factors when you use models that is the only way to be sure you'll get a working vehicle you have to ask "Why bother?" (with SCramjets). :(
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 03/01/2018 07:42 pm
Quote
WASHINGTON: The Pentagon will ramp up research on hypersonic weapons with a stunning 136 percent increase in the 2019 budget request. Here’s the breakdown of the $257 million:

$139.4 million, the lion’s share, goes to the Air Force-DARPA collaboration on rocket-propelled hypersonics, Tactical Boost Glide (TBG), which will produce an “operational prototype” by 2023;
$14.3 million goes to Air-Force work on jet-propelled hypersonics, the Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept (HAWC), which DARPA is hoping the Navy will join.
$50 million goes to a new joint venture with the Army called Operational Fires (OPFIRES), part of the Army’s new emphasis on long-range artillery and missiles; and
$53 million goes to the Advanced Full Range Engine (AFRE) for future hypersonic vehicles.

https://breakingdefense.com/2018/03/dod-boosts-hypersonics-136-in-2019-darpa/
Title: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 03/02/2018 08:53 am
Hypersonic Weapons Enter Service with Russian Aviation

Quote
Vladimir Puttin, the President of the Russian Republic confirmed today that Russia began deploying new strategic weapons that are virtually immune to enemy missile defense capabilities. These weapons include a hypersonic air-launched surface attack missile and surface-launched weapon, that can be used with a nuclear or conventional warhead. Russian planners believe the new weapons follow innovative designs making them immune to current and future ballistic missile defenses. Representing new weapon categories, both systems are not likely to be covered by the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START).

http://defense-update.com/20180302_new_russian_strategic_weapons.html

U.S. Hypersonic Weapons ‘Coming’ As Putin Touts Russia’s Lead

Quote
As Russian President Vladimir Putin displayed video of the country’s Kinzhal air-launched hypersonic strike missile in his March 1 state of the union address, Darpa’s director confirmed the U.S. will flight test operational prototypes of a similar weapon in ...

http://m.aviationweek.com/defense/us-hypersonic-weapons-coming-putin-touts-russia-s-lead
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 03/02/2018 10:55 am
Quote
WASHINGTON: The Pentagon will ramp up research on hypersonic weapons with a stunning 136 percent increase in the 2019 budget request. Here’s the breakdown of the $257 million:

$139.4 million, the lion’s share, goes to the Air Force-DARPA collaboration on rocket-propelled hypersonics, Tactical Boost Glide (TBG), which will produce an “operational prototype” by 2023;
$14.3 million goes to Air-Force work on jet-propelled hypersonics, the Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept (HAWC), which DARPA is hoping the Navy will join.
$50 million goes to a new joint venture with the Army called Operational Fires (OPFIRES), part of the Army’s new emphasis on long-range artillery and missiles; and
$53 million goes to the Advanced Full Range Engine (AFRE) for future hypersonic vehicles.

https://breakingdefense.com/2018/03/dod-boosts-hypersonics-136-in-2019-darpa/
Good to see the bulk is going on rocket propelled hypersonics, which are known to work, rather than the still highly speculative SCramjet. 
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 03/02/2018 11:06 am
Quote
WASHINGTON: The Pentagon will ramp up research on hypersonic weapons with a stunning 136 percent increase in the 2019 budget request. Here’s the breakdown of the $257 million:

$139.4 million, the lion’s share, goes to the Air Force-DARPA collaboration on rocket-propelled hypersonics, Tactical Boost Glide (TBG), which will produce an “operational prototype” by 2023;
$14.3 million goes to Air-Force work on jet-propelled hypersonics, the Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept (HAWC), which DARPA is hoping the Navy will join.
$50 million goes to a new joint venture with the Army called Operational Fires (OPFIRES), part of the Army’s new emphasis on long-range artillery and missiles; and
$53 million goes to the Advanced Full Range Engine (AFRE) for future hypersonic vehicles.

https://breakingdefense.com/2018/03/dod-boosts-hypersonics-136-in-2019-darpa/
Good to see the bulk is going on rocket propelled hypersonics, which are known to work, rather than the still highly speculative SCramjet.

Of course a lot of that funding could be buried in the Black Budget.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 03/03/2018 01:05 pm
Quote
WASHINGTON: The Pentagon will ramp up research on hypersonic weapons with a stunning 136 percent increase in the 2019 budget request. Here’s the breakdown of the $257 million:

$139.4 million, the lion’s share, goes to the Air Force-DARPA collaboration on rocket-propelled hypersonics, Tactical Boost Glide (TBG), which will produce an “operational prototype” by 2023;
$14.3 million goes to Air-Force work on jet-propelled hypersonics, the Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept (HAWC), which DARPA is hoping the Navy will join.
$50 million goes to a new joint venture with the Army called Operational Fires (OPFIRES), part of the Army’s new emphasis on long-range artillery and missiles; and
$53 million goes to the Advanced Full Range Engine (AFRE) for future hypersonic vehicles.

https://breakingdefense.com/2018/03/dod-boosts-hypersonics-136-in-2019-darpa/
Good to see the bulk is going on rocket propelled hypersonics, which are known to work, rather than the still highly speculative SCramjet.

Of course a lot of that funding could be buried in the Black Budget.
Anything's possible in the secret budget, because it's well, secret.

Like the "Aurora" successor to the SR71 that was supposed to be flying in the 80's and 90's, perhaps?
Great story.

Pity it didn't actually exist.  :(

There's a reason why the F117 and B2 are sub sonic. A M1+ vehicle that is invisible on infra red is a fantasy.  It will light up the screens on an IR sensor like a Christmas tree, even if it's got an RCS of a small stone. And by now every major power should be familiar with the myth, and reality of stealth. IOW they should all have IR sensors on major air, sea and land vehicles and installations. The only way to not be noticed would be to fly a trajectory like a meteor, and as soon as it got slow enough someone would shoot the "meteor" down. 

As for the Russian reports of a super duper M5 missile, there's a difference between what can be shown on Computer Generated Imagery (nearly anything) and what can be achieved IRL. 
 
It's probably more real that the MHD drive systems Reagan supporters believed had been fitted to Soviet submarines in the Cold War.

That also turned out to be a total fantasy.

BTW the US had made much of the threat of M5 missile but it appears the FSU has had M5 capable missiles since the mid 80's
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S-300_missile_system

and up to M5.9 in the last decade.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S-400_missile_system

So it's not like the US has had no notice of what the FSU is capable of (or anyone else with a big enough rocket attached).
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 03/05/2018 10:29 am
Someone in Lockheed has dusted off the RATTLRS model again.

https://mobile.twitter.com/FG_STrim/status/970027897254653952

Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 03/26/2018 09:57 am
In the current Skylon thread a poster reported a presentation by Mark Wood. This section caught my eye.
Quote
Testbed designs: Slides showed a single-engine testbed looking a bit like a D-21 with a belly-mounted delta and no strakes. Mark confirmed this was the current concept for the test vehicle (though of course subject to change).

Testing timeline (admitted to be aggressive):
2019 - Expected to start seeing HEX spinout developments
2023 - Integrated engine test
2024 - Test vehicle flight

Unless they plan to make the test vehicle expendable (just a single flight to demonstrate the test engine is flight weight) this will be the first reusable hypersonic aircraft since the X-15.

This potentially makes it a very valuable research asset for hypersonics researchers around the globe, depending on what data it's designed to collect and what, where (and even if) it's designed to carry a payload, other than it's built in instruments.

AFAIK the record for hypersonic flight under thrust is the X51's 2013 flight of 210secs at > M5 (with a target of 300secs), and was expendable.

AIUI the key objective for the REL flight vehicle is to prove out the inlet design and (ideally) the full closure and switch over to rocket mode.  In principle this doesn't need a long flight at >M5.

The question is what sort of cruise duration could you pack into a vehicle with a 20 tonne thrust engine, given it will probably need to be able to take off from the ground (which alone would be a significant innovation for this sort of vehicle) as I don't think REL are planning to become an aircraft operator like Orbital with Stargazer. 
Title: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 03/26/2018 02:37 pm
In the current Skylon thread a poster reported a presentation by Mark Wood. This section caught my eye.
Quote
Testbed designs: Slides showed a single-engine testbed looking a bit like a D-21 with a belly-mounted delta and no strakes. Mark confirmed this was the current concept for the test vehicle (though of course subject to change).

Testing timeline (admitted to be aggressive):
2019 - Expected to start seeing HEX spinout developments
2023 - Integrated engine test
2024 - Test vehicle flight

Unless they plan to make the test vehicle expendable (just a single flight to demonstrate the test engine is flight weight) this will be the first reusable hypersonic aircraft since the X-15.

This potentially makes it a very valuable research asset for hypersonics researchers around the globe, depending on what data it's designed to collect and what, where (and even if) it's designed to carry a payload, other than it's built in instruments.

AFAIK the record for hypersonic flight under thrust is the X51's 2013 flight of 210secs at > M5 (with a target of 300secs), and was expendable.

AIUI the key objective for the REL flight vehicle is to prove out the inlet design and (ideally) the full closure and switch over to rocket mode.  In principle this doesn't need a long flight at >M5.

The question is what sort of cruise duration could you pack into a vehicle with a 20 tonne thrust engine, given it will probably need to be able to take off from the ground (which alone would be a significant innovation for this sort of vehicle) as I don't think REL are planning to become an aircraft operator like Orbital with Stargazer.

I can tell you one thing that any vehicle will not be tested here for a whole variety of reasons, it will either be Australia or the US.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 03/26/2018 04:49 pm
I can tell you one thing that any vehicle will not be tested here for a whole variety of reasons, it will either be Australia or the US.
Not necessarily. There are test ranges in the UK (The one out over Cardogan bay) and the projected Newquay site.

I think the issue would be supporting a remote team. The US is an ITAR accident waiting to happen. There is precedent for this. The former Soviet Union shipped a pair of their space nuclear reactors to the US for testing (IIRC they were not fueled) then the US said they could not be "exported" back to their country of origin.   :(

The last time ITAR was negotiated the UK expected a waiver on ITAR restrictions. Y'know, Americas closest ally and all that?
In fact it got "accelerated" clearance. Which depends on how heavy a work load they have down at the State Department (which has had a few holes in its senior management lately.  :( ).

Keep in mind any flight is likely to be quite short. Depending on direction any take off from Cardogan bay would be out into the Irish Sea or the Atlantic. How many people would notice 15 minutes in the middle of the day?

If flying test runs for other researchers did become a regular occurrence I think they'd like to keep the team close to home for data analysis and vehicle changes, such as installing new test hardware.   
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Hog on 03/26/2018 05:15 pm
In the current Skylon thread a poster reported a presentation by Mark Wood. This section caught my eye.
Quote
Testbed designs: Slides showed a single-engine testbed looking a bit like a D-21 with a belly-mounted delta and no strakes. Mark confirmed this was the current concept for the test vehicle (though of course subject to change).

Testing timeline (admitted to be aggressive):
2019 - Expected to start seeing HEX spinout developments
2023 - Integrated engine test
2024 - Test vehicle flight

Unless they plan to make the test vehicle expendable (just a single flight to demonstrate the test engine is flight weight) this will be the first reusable hypersonic aircraft since the X-15.

This potentially makes it a very valuable research asset for hypersonics researchers around the globe, depending on what data it's designed to collect and what, where (and even if) it's designed to carry a payload, other than it's built in instruments.

AIUI the key objective for the REL flight vehicle is to prove out the inlet design and (ideally) the full closure AFAIK the record for hypersonic flight under thrust is the X51's 2013 flight of 210secs at > M5 (with a target of 300secs), and was expendable.

and switch over to rocket mode.  In principle this doesn't need a long flight at >M5.

The question is what sort of cruise duration could you pack into a vehicle with a 20 tonne thrust engine, given it will probably need to be able to take off from the ground (which alone would be a significant innovation for this sort of vehicle) as I don't think REL are planning to become an aircraft operator like Orbital with Stargazer.
Your 210 second duration spec. made me instantly think of the MAch 6+ X-15.  Do you happen to know how long the X-15s engines fired for?

On one hand, 300 seconds seems like a long time to burn an engine of this type.  Then I think of just how long the RS25/SSMEs had to burn for, approx. 501-513 seconds during nominal missions.

Its amazing what the propulsion systems of vehicles like these can do, in the environments that they must work in.
 
During the Abort To Orbit, 2 SSMEs had to fire for over 9 minutes 41 seconds or 581 seconds  during the ascent of STS-51F ATO.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 03/26/2018 06:29 pm
Your 210 second duration spec. made me instantly think of the MAch 6+ X-15.  Do you happen to know how long the X-15s engines fired for?

On one hand, 300 seconds seems like a long time to burn an engine of this type.  Then I think of just how long the RS25/SSMEs had to burn for, approx. 501-513 seconds during nominal missions.

Its amazing what the propulsion systems of vehicles like these can do, in the environments that they must work in.
 
During the Abort To Orbit, 2 SSMEs had to fire for over 9 minutes 41 seconds or 581 seconds  during the ascent of STS-51F ATO.
Googling "how long did the engies for the X15 fire" gives this page

https://history.nasa.gov/SP-60/ch-4.html
Quote
Long before the first flight, X-15 pilots had become familiar with the demands for precise control, especially during the first 85 seconds - the powered phase, which establishes conditions for the entire flight
IIRC full X-15 flights ran 12-15 minutes.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: JQP on 03/27/2018 11:29 am
Quote
It's excellent news if you want the Chinese government to waste a very large sum of money on a wild goose chase.
Or blaze the trail, so we can spend money chasing proven technology, instead of burn it proving it can even work. Of course Chinese nationalists will crow about it forever, but the Chinese have copied everything from the West for a centuries, so a bit of turnabout would be welcome.

Quote
How could so many learned people be wrong? The answer is the same way the people who studied Phrenology or Eugenics could be.  :(

There's nothing wrong with eugenics, or its study.

Quote
[Magnetohydrodynamic propulsion] also turned out to be a total fantasy.

Great movie though. :)
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 03/27/2018 08:32 pm
Pentagon advisory panel calls for establishment of near-term hypersonic defense capability (https://insidedefense.com/daily-news/pentagon-advisory-panel-calls-establishment-near-term-hypersonic-defense-capability)


Quote
An influential Pentagon advisory board has recommended the U.S. military quickly develop and field an interim capability to defeat hypersonic weapon threats, launching a program to develop a defensive capability against a new-class of ultra-high-speed strike systems that are the focus of an race between Washington, Beijing and Moscow.

Missile Defense Agency Director Lt. Gen. Sam Greaves previewed findings of the not-yet-public Defense Science Board's 2017 summer study on hypersonic strike weapons in written testimony prepared for the Senate Armed Services strategic forces subcommittee on March 21.

Greaves said the Pentagon's $120 million request in fiscal year 2019 to advance the new-start hypersonic defense program MDA launched in FY-18 at congressional direction carries out the DSB's advice.

"This effort will execute the Defense Science Board’s recommendations to develop and deliver a set of materiel solutions to address and defeat hypersonic threats informed by a set of near-term technology demonstrations," Greaves wrote.


The DSB study on Countering Anti-Access Systems With Longer Range and Standoff Capabilities is not yet public; an unclassified summary of the final report is expected as soon as April, according to Pentagon spokeswoman Lt. Col. Michelle Baldanza.

Last summer, the Defense Intelligence Ballistic Missile Analysis Committee in collaboration with the Air Force's National Air and Space Intelligence Center identified hypersonic glide vehicles -- being developed by Russia and China to penetrate U.S. ballistic missile defenses -- as an "emerging threat." For a decade, the U.S. military has been developing technologies to support an intermediate-range hypersonic strike weapon; the Pentagon plans to identify a formal acquisition program for an offensive capability in 2020.

Meantime, MDA -- established in 2004 to focus primarily on ballistic and cruise missile threats -- is now leading the new effort to develop a fledgling program to counter hypersonic boost glide threats. Intercontinental ballistic missiles move at hypersonic speeds -- 20 times the speed of sound -- on trajectories that are predictable.

Hypersonic boost glide weapons fly a different path. After being lifted by rocket near the edge of the atmosphere, the experimental payload separates from its booster rocket near space and flies a flatter, non-ballistic trajectory, gliding unpowered at speeds of at least Mach 5 to its destination. Their ability to maneuver gives this potential new class of weapons the ability to penetrate current air defenses.

The new hypersonic defense program, according to Greaves, consists of a number of efforts, including systems engineering and efforts to "identify and mature the full kill-chain technology" to counter hypersonic threats.  MDA is looking for "target-of-opportunity events" and execute near-term, "space-sensor technology and multidomain command-and-control capability upgrades to address defense from hypersonic threats."

"An integrated set of enhancements will provide incremental capability measured by progress and knowledge points in the following areas: establishment of systems engineering needs and requirements to identify alternative material solutions; execution of a series of sensor technology demonstrations; modification of existing BMDS sensors and the C2BMC element for hypersonic threats; and definition of weapon concepts and investments in key technologies to enable a broad set of solutions, including kinetic and non-kinetic means," according to Greaves.

MDA is currently conducting an analysis of alternatives to explore potential materiel solutions for a hypersonic defense capability. That analysis, often a precursor to a major weapons program, is running behind schedule.

The FY-18 omnibus appropriations act cut MDA's $75 million request to launch the hypersonic defense program to $60 million, peeling back $15 million because the funding was "Early to need pending completion of analysis of alternatives." The FY-18 budget request anticipated the AOA being complete this spring; the FY-19 budget request anticipates the AOA being complete this summer.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 03/28/2018 12:44 pm
To put a little more detail on the idea of a SABRE powered hypersonic research vehicle I looked up the Maximum Takeoff Weights of various aircraft.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_airliners_by_maximum_takeoff_weight

The SEI study reckoned you'd need a T/W of 0.7 to get to M8 for their TSTO so a 20tonne thrust engine that gives about 28 tonnes.

These are all in the range 23-30 tonnes. The Dash_8 is just about at the 28t mark.  The Vickers Viscout around 30tonnes.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombardier_CRJ200
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombardier_Dash_8
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vickers_Viscount

People will think of the D21 reconnaissance drone, but this was about 5tonnes, while the SRB needed to launch it from the B52 was even heavier (coincidentally it burned for about the same time, 85secs, as the main X-15 engine), more than doubling the package size.

OTOH the little known Tupolev Tu 123
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-123
Was about 35t and designed to cruise around M3 using the expendable version of the Tumansky R15 turbojet which in full after burner had about a T/W of 4.16:1.
The Tu-123 Wiki article uses the afterburner thrust level, suggested it was on permanent AB after launch.
Note that unlike D21 it was designed to be ground launched with a RATO pack. The whole vehicle had a payload mass fraction of about 3 although RATO mass is not listed.
The X-15 itself weighed 15420Kg yet needed a rocket thrust 2.07x that to get to test speed, probably due to its (by air breathing standards) very poor Isp.

Which I think suggests there are reasons to believe you could build a useful ground launched hypersonic test vehicle around the SABRE test engine.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Hog on 03/28/2018 03:28 pm
D-21 detaching from M-21
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q24kiwv2HD0


THE M-21 accident which brought M-21 launching D-21's to an end and D-21 into B-52 SRB usage as mentioned above
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMyC2urCl_4
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 03/29/2018 07:38 am
D-21 detaching from M-21


THE M-21 accident which brought M-21 launching D-21's to an end and D-21 into B-52 SRB usage as mentioned above
So the moral of this story is what exactly?

Don't launch from an aircraft with inward canted tails?

Don't launch from an aircraft with inward canted tails in level flight (the earlier ones had been with the SR71 flying in an outside loop, with the D21 on the outer face).

IIRC no D21 mission, even the ones from the Stratofortress, were successful. Given their nature I would guess telemetry able to diagnose what went wrong, was limited.
OTOH most of the 199 X15 missions flown were successful, suggesting reusability is pretty useful for finding, and fixing, bugs in the basic system.

AFAIK the Tu-123 did not any launch issues, but it's cost was prohibitive to the cash strapped Soviet Union of the time. That suggests ground launch can be less problematical.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Hog on 03/29/2018 12:21 pm
D-21 detaching from M-21


THE M-21 accident which brought M-21 launching D-21's to an end and D-21 into B-52 SRB usage as mentioned above
So the moral of this story is what exactly?

Don't launch from an aircraft with inward canted tails?

Don't launch from an aircraft with inward canted tails in level flight (the earlier ones had been with the SR71 flying in an outside loop, with the D21 on the outer face).

IIRC no D21 mission, even the ones from the Stratofortress, were successful. Given their nature I would guess telemetry able to diagnose what went wrong, was limited.
OTOH most of the 199 X15 missions flown were successful, suggesting reusability is pretty useful for finding, and fixing, bugs in the basic system.

AFAIK the Tu-123 did not any launch issues, but it's cost was prohibitive to the cash strapped Soviet Union of the time. That suggests ground launch can be less problematical.
I wasn't trying to imply any moral to any story, just adding some "colour" to a thread using some fine examples of the technological "intestinal fortitude" as someone had mentioned the D-21 earlier.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 03/29/2018 04:04 pm
I wasn't trying to imply any moral to any story, just adding some "colour" to a thread using some fine examples of the technological "intestinal fortitude" as someone had mentioned the D-21 earlier.
Part of the reason for the D21 being (relatively) cheap was (AFAIK) a fixed geometry vehicle. Prefectly reasonable for an operational programme, which the M21/D21 system was meant to be.

For a research programme you probably want something a bit more flexible.

Of course if people think they already know all they need to know about hypersonic flight then they can go straight to designing the equipment directly.

The fact no one has fielded an operational system in this area (despite M21/D21 expecting to go to such a system at M3 half a century ago) suggests there are still pretty big gaps in the basic knowledge of extended flight at M5+ speeds
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 04/04/2018 05:04 pm
Hypersonic Weapons Explainer

https://carnegieendowment.org/2018/04/02/hypersonic-weapons-explainer-pub-75957
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 04/05/2018 07:23 am
Hypersonic Weapons Explainer

https://carnegieendowment.org/2018/04/02/hypersonic-weapons-explainer-pub-75957
That sounded remarkably balanced.

Bottom line. Russia and China can already deliver nuclear weapons at M12+ (by ICBM). It's precision that allows the use of non nuclear payloads.

I especially like the part about the DoD having to decide why they need a hypersonic programme before spending a shed load of cash on it.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: JQP on 04/05/2018 12:28 pm
Air Force looking to additive manufacturing to expand hypersonic flight capabilities (http://www.wpafb.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1484026/air-force-looking-to-additive-manufacturing-to-expand-hypersonic-flight-capabil/)

Quote
ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, Tenn. – The Air Force is testing materials produced through ceramic additive manufacturing to advance their potential future use in hypersonic flight vehicles.

Scientists with the Air Force Research Laboratory Aerospace Systems Directorate recently entered into a Cooperative Research and Development – Material Transfer Agreement with HRL Laboratories to test additively manufactured silicon oxycarbide (SiOC) materials.The geometric complexity of components that can be produced through additive manufacturing in conjunction with the refractory nature of ceramics holds enormous potential for a variety of future Air Force applications. One such possible application is hypersonic flight, which exposes materials to extreme environments including high temperatures.

The potential of the HRL-produced materials for demanding Air Force applications became apparent while Aerospace Systems Directorate scientists were searching for new thermocouple radiation shields. The SiOC materials were produced through an additive manufacturing process utilizing a pre-ceramic resin. Following part fabrication, the pre-ceramic resin was heat treated to convert the component to a fully ceramic state. AFRL scientists became interested in HRL’s novel process taking advantage of state-of-the-art 3D printing capabilities and pre-ceramic resin chemistry as well as the possible performance of the final SiOC materials at high temperatures.

“If a material can withstand those temperatures – roughly 3,200 degrees Fahrenheit – it could be used for hypersonic aircraft engine components like struts or flame holders,” said Jamie Szmodis, a hypersonic research engineer with the Aerospace Systems Directorate.

Kudos to Wright-Patterson AFB for having a page that retains basic functionality sans Javascript, and offers a simple hyperlink to a printer-friendly version. I hope someone there shows NASA how that's done...
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 04/05/2018 12:57 pm
Hypersonic Weapons Explainer

https://carnegieendowment.org/2018/04/02/hypersonic-weapons-explainer-pub-75957
That sounded remarkably balanced.

Bottom line. Russia and China can already deliver nuclear weapons at M12+ (by ICBM). It's precision that allows the use of non nuclear payloads.

I especially like the part about the DoD having to decide why they need a hypersonic programme before spending a shed load of cash on it.

I expect if asked their justification would be because other countries are developing them, seems to be the way the argument is going.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Katana on 04/09/2018 07:23 pm
Either you have an interesting definition of "excellent news" or my sarcasm detector is malfunctioning again.
It's excellent news if you want the Chinese government to waste a very large sum of money on a wild goose chase.
Quote from: Lar

I do wonder why they keep trying this
As Francois Truffaut character in Close Encounters of the Third Kind puts it "It is en affaire sociologique" IOW
A toxic mix of (semi) plausible arguments (that a child can follow), seductive maths and group think.

How could so many learned people be wrong? The answer is the same way the people who studied Phrenology or Eugenics could be.  :(

SCramjet research is like a "Grail quest".
The endlessly long list of hints that maybe will lead to a solution.
The vast riches and glory to the discoverer at the end.
If we just try a little harder. If we just had a little bit faster computers. We are so close. If, if,if.
Add in a few researchers who might not be overly scrupulous in checking their assumptions and an Air Force general with a large budget and keen desire that "Something must be done" and the rest is history.  :(

Then of course there is the huge Kudos of doing something the US has spent (since Johns Hopkins APL work in 1960)  North of $10Bn (in 2018 $) to do and still failed to deliver an operational vehicle with.
The dream that we will be the Wright Brothers successful efforts to the USG's lavishly funded (but failed) efforts to build a "Heavier than air flying machine."

Note that IRL rockets and regular ramjets have got operational flight vehicles up to M5+ for decades and AFAIK no one has really tried to find the upper limit of conventional ramjet action, or even what a viable Mach operating range is. 3 Mach numbers is a "rule of thumb" that does not seem to have a reference basis beyond "After that we have to start to think seriously about the problems."

Hypersonic flight is a challenging field in terms of aerodynamics and structures that can survive prolonged (greater than 15 minutes roughly) without refurbishment at reasonable weight.
OTOH SCramjet development continues to look like a bottomless money pit.

When a SCramjet proponent writing in Aerospace America says essentially "The only way to develop a full size SCramjet aircraft is to do develop a full size SCramjet aircraft,"  because between the uncertainties of the maths driving the CFD simulations and the scale factors when you use models that is the only way to be sure you'll get a working vehicle you have to ask "Why bother?" (with SCramjets). :(
LACE / precooled concepts also have long, unsuccessful and costly history similar to scramjet, since HOTOL and RB525. Sabre may be as successful as X-43, but Skylon could come nowhere near BFR, by payload ability or by project TRL.

The sadness of ramjet means that no CUSTOMER really NEEDS hypersonics at M5+.  Boasting new types of engines for investment is another "business model".

Navaho got wiped out by ICBM in 1958. Presumeably all airbreathing hypersonics would be wipe out if BFR becomes operational and USAF buy a dozen as reuseable ICBM.

Russia and China are also nowhere near to copy BFR, though they would struggle for it at enormous cost even if USAF does NOT buy it. (See the neighbor thread how Russians got horrified of Shuttle).
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 04/10/2018 06:53 am
LACE / precooled concepts also have long, unsuccessful and costly history similar to scramjet, since HOTOL and RB525.
LACE certainly was. By US standards HOTOL and the RB525 were accounting errors, literally 0.1% of NASP (0.4% in then year dollars), and NASP is still just a fraction of what the US has spent chasing the SCramjet dream.

Quote from: Katana
Sabre may be as successful as X-43, but Skylon could come nowhere near BFR, by payload ability or by project TRL.
Is this really the place you want to have that conversation?
Quote from: Katana
The sadness of ramjet means that no CUSTOMER really NEEDS hypersonics at M5+.  Boasting new types of engines for investment is another "business model".
Well passengers might like to chop the journey time from London to Sydney non stop from 17 hours to
less than 4 hours.
Quote from: Katana
Navaho got wiped out by ICBM in 1958. Presumeably all airbreathing hypersonics would be wipe out if BFR becomes operational and USAF buy a dozen as reuseable ICBM.
Navaho was M3 and you really have no idea how the launch market works do you?
But given BFR is basically a giant ICBM it should surprise no one it can be turned into one quite easily.

Quote from: Katana
Russia and China are also nowhere near to copy BFR, though they would struggle for it at enormous cost even if USAF does NOT buy it. (See the neighbor thread how Russians got horrified of Shuttle).
Funny how Russian and Chinese prowess in hypersonics goes up and down to suit the programme being funded isn't it?

Some of the programmes that drove the design choices for Shuttle were militarily insane. :(
It's (probably) true neither Russia nor China could build a vehicle to match BFR.

But they can definitely build the small nuclear weapons they could launch in barrage to fry anyone that comes over their territory and BFS is very large relative to an ICBM warhead.

The Cold War ended in 1989. Let it go.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Katana on 04/10/2018 01:00 pm
Hypersonic aircraft market is different to launcher market. Navaho could only be capable of M3, but M3 is already "hyper" enough for aircrafts in early 1950s, many years before SR71 and Concorde.

Passengers always want to travel at M3 between continents since then, but they don't need it: none could afford it (Remember the failed M3+ Boeing 2707). How could they afford M4~5 or "real hypersonics"?

Airliner service is an extremely hash low cost market.

Ironically, almost all hypersonic projects ongoing in this thread are sliding into military, including SABRE and Skylon. Hard to imagine BFR as a low cost hypersonic exception that stays civil forever.

One probable reason:
Payload cost in $/kg of F-16 and B-52 lies between the $/kg of ICBM or launcher, and $/kg of passenger airliners. Getting down (in cost) from launcher market to airliner market would inevitably cross the regime of fighters and bombers, much earlier than finally reaching airliner market.

 USAF have talked about fitting ICBM with non nuclear tips, similar concept of HTV and AHW, though all too expensive for their purpose.
https://gizmodo.com/5518192/non-nuclear-us-icbm-can-strike-iran-in-30-minutes

It's wise for America NOT to waste too much money on HTV and AHW similar to Russian and Chinese HGV.

But BFR may solve the cost problem. "ICBM" as cost effective as F-16 or B-52 could be well suited for conventional warfare.

And it may become best chance for America to win the "loosing" hypersonic race against Russia and China.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 04/10/2018 06:40 pm
Hypersonic aircraft market is different to launcher market. Navaho could only be capable of M3, but M3 is already "hyper" enough for aircrafts in early 1950s, many years before SR71 and Concorde.
Not really. A12 was already being thought about (I think Lockheed reckoned the U2 had maybe a 3 year life expectancy).
Quote from: Katana
Passengers always want to travel at M3 between continents since then, but they don't need it: none could afford it (Remember the failed M3+ Boeing 2707). How could they afford M4~5 or "real hypersonics"?
No. Because it never flew. Turns out building the biggest swing wing aircraft ever built in Titanium was too tough.
I do remember Concord flying for 30 years with a near perfect safety record and people being able to have breakfast in London, lunch in New York and dinner in London. Concorde's biggest mistake was in fact the 2707's only really good point. It was close to being big enough to being fully economically viable. AFAIK every study since by Boeing or Airbus has reckoned 300 passengers is the minimum size you need for this. It's not even clear if they had managed to solve the "super cruise" problem, which Concorde had.
Quote from: Katana
Airliner service is an extremely hash low cost market.
True. Practically because none can offer more speed. AFAIK no one ever thought SST would be "mass market."  It's a premium service at a premium price. As the Concorde operations division found most passengers did not know what their ticket cost (so they asked them what they thought it cost and increased the actual price to what most of their passengers thought they were already paying)
Quote from: Katana
Ironically, almost all hypersonic projects ongoing in this thread are sliding into military, including SABRE and Skylon. Hard to imagine BFR as a low cost hypersonic exception that stays civil forever.

One probable reason:
Payload cost in $/kg of F-16 and B-52 lies between the $/kg of ICBM or launcher, and $/kg of passenger airliners. Getting down (in cost) from launcher market to airliner market would inevitably cross the regime of fighters and bombers, much earlier than finally reaching airliner market.

 USAF have talked about fitting ICBM with non nuclear tips, similar concept of HTV and AHW, though all too expensive for their purpose.
https://gizmodo.com/5518192/non-nuclear-us-icbm-can-strike-iran-in-30-minutes

It's wise for America NOT to waste too much money on HTV and AHW similar to Russian and Chinese HGV.

But BFR may solve the cost problem. "ICBM" as cost effective as F-16 or B-52 could be well suited for conventional warfare.

And it may become best chance for America to win the "loosing" hypersonic race against Russia and China.
And yet in another thread you advocate selling BFR (well actually BFR services since LV mfgs don't sell vehicles, they basically sell tickets to ride their vehicle, although it's more like a lottery, given flight safety records) as an orbital weapons delivery system.

So what is it? Orbit capable systems or hypersonic systems, or just whatever has the biggest funding available?

Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Katana on 04/11/2018 04:49 am
For SST, cost and size (=initial cost) is hash.
For hypersonic airliner, safety becomes more hash.

M2+ aircraft were conventional for 50 years. But hypersonic manned (X-15) / suborbital tourism (SS2) vehicles remained dangerous vehicles flying by test pilots up to now. Lethal casualty rate stays at best 1/100, same to orbital flight, 5~6 magnitudes more dangerous than airliner.

SS2 claimed to be "more safe", but have taken more lives than X-15 while delayed for nearly 10 years, not hypersonic, and incapable of P2P transport.

"Hypersonic P2P transportation" of passengers remains a distant dream up to now, but it's an EXISTING FACT that those projects are shifting to "hypersonic P2P transportation" of weapons, except BFR.

Of course BFR could still stay civil, if stay in the orbital launcher market and stay away from "hypersonic P2P transportation" of anything.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 04/11/2018 06:54 pm
For SST, cost and size (=initial cost) is hash.
For hypersonic airliner, safety becomes more hash.
I'm not really sure what you mean by this.
Concorde flew for 27 years with no crashes prior to the Air France disaster, when it was grossly overloaded.
Quote from: Katana
M2+ aircraft were conventional for 50 years. But hypersonic manned (X-15) / suborbital tourism (SS2) vehicles remained dangerous vehicles flying by test pilots up to now. Lethal casualty rate stays at best 1/100, same to orbital flight, 5~6 magnitudes more dangerous than airliner.
Maybe because one was a test aircraft whose mission was to find the problems of hypersonic flight and the other was in its test phase prior to being declared fit for service? In the case of SS2 that was due to a frankly bizzare  decision to have no safety interlock on a key flight control.
Quote from: Katana
SS2 claimed to be "more safe", but have taken more lives than X-15 while delayed for nearly 10 years, not hypersonic, and incapable of P2P transport.
If not hypersonic why are you even mentioning it?
Quote from: Katana
"Hypersonic P2P transportation" of passengers remains a distant dream up to now, but it's an EXISTING FACT that those projects are shifting to "hypersonic P2P transportation" of weapons, except BFR.
In fact most hypersonic projects have been military funded and are for weapons research already.
Quote from: Katana
Of course BFR could still stay civil, if stay in the orbital launcher market and stay away from "hypersonic P2P transportation" of anything.
Personally I think you could take the Concorde ticket prices, adjust for inflation, double that (implying M4 or better, not necessarily hypersonic, but damm fast) and you'd have a pretty healthy market.

The fact Concorde did make a profit for its operators suggests there is a strong market for people who want to go from A to B much faster than M0.95. The problem is how to do develop it profitably.

I don't doubt that a service at > M1 can make a profit. I'm rather more doubtful about what architectures will make that work.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Katana on 04/12/2018 04:56 am
To go M4+ with 300 passengers and fly everyday for 20 years, conventional aircraft architecture with turboramjet engine (turbofan mods) still applys.

Modern turbofan mods should provide much better performance than J58, which is modified from a single shaft turbojet.

Critical architecture choice maybe the airframe material, nickel alloy / titanium alloy (simplified Skylon? rebirth of 2707?) or composite (special high temp resin CFRP? C-C?)

BTW, going beyond M5 (up to M25 of BFR) would have insignificant benefit compared to M4+, since the time cost for 12000km is already 3~4 hours at M4. If going faster, land traffic and waiting time becomes significant, especially when available flights are not as frequent as typical airliner.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 04/12/2018 08:11 am
To go M4+ with 300 passengers and fly everyday for 20 years, conventional aircraft architecture with turboramjet engine (turbofan mods) still applys.
In 1972 maybe.   :( When the base price of oil per barrel quadrupled over night that was no longer viable.

What people forget about Concorde was that it cruised at M2 without using afterburner. Getting twice the thrust for 3x the fuel consumption is not a viable strategy for commercial airliners.
Quote from: Katana
Modern turbofan mods should provide much better performance than J58, which is modified from a single shaft turbojet.
Not really. The issue is frontal surface area and the heat release when air is slowed by so much. There's a reason why there's a precooler in the front of the SABRE compressor.
Quote from: Katana
Critical architecture choice maybe the airframe material, nickel alloy / titanium alloy (simplified Skylon? rebirth of 2707?) or composite (special high temp resin CFRP? C-C?)
I was actually thinking more in terms of the difference between a conventional "single stage" aircraft and Musks BFR for P2P use.  :(
But designing a fuselage and wing structure that can survive prolonged M5 heating (even at very high altitude) is not a trivial issue.
Quote from: Katana
BTW, going beyond M5 (up to M25 of BFR) would have insignificant benefit compared to M4+, since the time cost for 12000km is already 3~4 hours at M4. If going faster, land traffic and waiting time becomes significant, especially when available flights are not as frequent as typical airliner.
Actually the EU target for LAPCAT was M8, which the Germans attempted with a Kerosene SCramjet. Despite the theoretical benefits of the much denser fuel they still couldn't make the design close with the range necessary to avoid overflying built up areas.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: docmordrid on 04/12/2018 03:14 pm
>
The Cold War ended in 1989. Let it go.

In case you haven't noticed, Cold War II started on March 4, 2012 with Putin's reboot.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 04/12/2018 06:39 pm
>
The Cold War ended in 1989. Let it go.

In case you haven't noticed, Cold War II started on March 4, 2012 with Putin's reboot.
Which is OT for this thread.

More relevant would be the fact that Russia (and its predecessor states) has had operational M5 (and M5+) capable long range missiles since the mid 90's at least.

Despite this the US military has still not been able to build a strong enough case to fund an operational vehicle. USN has fielded previous long rang ramjet missiles (some with long operating lives) since the late 50's.  Likewise some experimental US missiles with fixed inlets have hit M5+.
But as long as the US remains obsessed with SCramjets being the only way to do this I don't expect anything much to happen.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: docmordrid on 04/12/2018 06:48 pm


>
The Cold War ended in 1989. Let it go.

In case you haven't noticed, Cold War II started on March 4, 2012 with Putin's reboot.
Which is OT for this thread.

More relevant would be the fact that Russia (and its predecessor states) has had operational M5 (and M5+) capable long range missiles since the mid 90's at least.

Despite this the US military has still not been able to build a strong enough case to fund an operational vehicle. USN has fielded previous long rang ramjet missiles (some with long operating lives) since the late 50's.  Likewise some experimental US missiles with fixed inlets have hit M5+.

It's tough to make a business case for M5-ish missiles when other, cheaper, missiles can go up to M12 with high accuracy. Not to mention Russia shredding the IRBM treaty with some of those birds.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Katana on 04/12/2018 07:56 pm
Prolonged M4 heating remains acceptable to titanium airframe (to withstand the total temperature in thermal equilibrium), prolonged M5 heating isn't.

Engines are less problematic, J58 in bypass ramjet mode is already a "turbofan", while modern turbofans are built with superalloys much better than J58.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 04/12/2018 11:34 pm
Prolonged M4 heating remains acceptable to titanium airframe (to withstand the total temperature in thermal equilibrium), prolonged M5 heating isn't.
That's bad news for anyone who wants to build a M5 aircraft isn't it?
Quote from: Katana
Engines are less problematic, J58 in bypass ramjet mode is already a "turbofan", while modern turbofans are built with superalloys much better than J58.
No. the J58 (including all the hardware inside the nacelle) is a turboramjet
I'd agree the SoA in turbine alloys has moved on a lot  in 6 decades. The trouble is no one builds big pure turbojets anymore.  The best you can get are low BPR turbofans, which started coming in with the F111 and B1 bombers. those bigger fans are designed to cope with a much cooler airflow. But once you start to speed up they get hit by very hot flow, at which point engine efficiency goes through the floor.

At about M2.2 you're starting to look at some kind of fluid injection ahead of the engine, or some kind of precooler. "Peace Jack" reckoned you could go to M3 without a ramjet in "Extended dashes" with water spray in the inlet. The DARPA MIPCC programme had HMX propose liquid air injection could be good to M5.

The challenge remains avoiding after burner level fuel consumption.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 04/12/2018 11:35 pm
It's tough to make a business case for M5-ish missiles when other, cheaper, missiles can go up to M12 with high accuracy. Not to mention Russia shredding the IRBM treaty with some of those birds.
Then perhaps the US should bite the bullet and just accept if they want a fast missile they should stick it on top of a really big rocket, instead of betting on the SCramjet?
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Katana on 04/13/2018 05:48 am
J58 without nacelle is a "leaky turbojet" which mimics turbofan by discharging air from comperssor.

Quite controversial, turbofans behave better than turbojets at M3.

D-30F6 of Mig31 is modified from high bypass civil version D-30, bypass ratio is reduced but yet higher than typical military low bypass turbofans.

At M2~M3, the core runs at idle speed, and the afterburner feds air mainly from large bypass duct. This solved overheating problem in R-15 turbojet of MIG25.

Imagine a civilian high bypass turbofan between shock cone inlet (which reduces air to subsonic) and gigantic afterburner, the whole system as an enormous turboramjet.

At M3 the core fuel supply shuts down, with low compression ratio and low heating in free rotation, drag of fan blades are neglegible compared to high compression of inlet.

Though at M1~2 the gigantic afterburner would be extremely fuel consuming.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Katana on 04/13/2018 06:28 am
It's tough to make a business case for M5-ish missiles when other, cheaper, missiles can go up to M12 with high accuracy. Not to mention Russia shredding the IRBM treaty with some of those birds.
Then perhaps the US should bite the bullet and just accept if they want a fast missile they should stick it on top of a really big rocket, instead of betting on the SCramjet?
Gliding RVs have been successfully tested by USAF in 1960s.

But rocket boosted non nuclear fast missiles are too expensive to be operational up to now. Unless Russian shoots down all Tomahawks and SDBs in Syria tomorrow.

Russia and China develop "operational fast missiles" since they would never fight with them.

For scramjet, NOT developing them is a bet for US, since competitors MAY success on it and threat US, by some unknown factor.

The term "hypersonic vehicles" virtually means "technological backup", either scramjet or gliding RV, either weapon or SST.

Shuttles are hypersonic (even with wings), but nobody call them this way. It's interesting to see how BFR/BFS would fit in these names and applications.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 04/13/2018 06:57 am
J58 without nacelle is a "leaky turbojet" which mimics turbofan by discharging air from comperssor.
Strictly speaking no jet engine operates "naked." They are all inside a nacelle or a fuselage.
Quote from: Katana
Quite controversial, turbofans behave better than turbojets at M3.

D-30F6 of Mig31 is modified from high bypass civil version D-30, bypass ratio is reduced but yet higher than typical military low bypass turbofans.

At M2~M3, the core runs at idle speed, and the afterburner feds air mainly from large bypass duct. This solved overheating problem in R-15 turbojet of MIG25.
AIUI this was suggested in the US for their SST programme in the late 60's/early 70's under the name "fan burning." The issue remains, the higher the airflow speed you're looking to decellerate from the hotter that flow will be. Once you get to M5 that's still not enough and you're probably looking at some kind of liquid injection, or you go with the US response of a SCramjet. 
Quote from: Katana
Imagine a civilian high bypass turbofan between shock cone inlet (which reduces air to subsonic) and gigantic afterburner, the whole system as an enormous turboramjet.

At M3 the core fuel supply shuts down, with low compression ratio and low heating in free rotation, drag of fan blades are neglegible compared to high compression of inlet.

Though at M1~2 the gigantic afterburner would be extremely fuel consuming.
Why imagine? Look up the engine for the Boeing 2707 design.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 04/13/2018 07:07 am
Gliding RVs have been successfully tested by USAF in 1960s.

But rocket boosted non nuclear fast missiles are too expensive to be operational up to now. Unless Russian shoots down all Tomahawks and SDBs in Syria tomorrow.

Russia and China develop "operational fast missiles" since they would never fight with them.
Depends what range and speed you're looking at.
Quote from: Katana
The term "hypersonic vehicles" virtually means "technological backup", either SCramjet or gliding RV, either weapon or SST.

Shuttles are hypersonic (even with wings), but nobody call them this way. It's interesting to see how BFR/BFS would fit in these names and applications.
No. In aeronautics the modern meaning of "hypersonic" is pretty specific. Flight at (or above) Mach 5.

The X-15 and Shuttle were both hypersonic. Artillery shells can be M3 "vehicles" (and the Germans developed a M3 liquid fueled ramjet type in WWII, which I think the Russians may have acquired).
And of course ICBM's are "hypersonic" as well, although they are generally more referred to as "ballistic" unless they have guidance fins, when they are a "maneuvering"

The nomenclature is not me being pedantic. It does actually mean something specific.

The problem is not the US couldn't field a M5 air breathing missile. It's their absolute insistence that only an SCramjet can deliver the fuel economy (which I'm doubtful about). Also AFAIK test SCramjets to date have very bad T/W ratios (around 2:1). The J58 in its nacelle could do about 2.25:1 while operating from 0 speed. That "0 speed" ability makes quite a difference in a practical aircraft.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Katana on 04/13/2018 07:38 am
J58 without nacelle is a "leaky turbojet" which mimics turbofan by discharging air from comperssor.
Strictly speaking no jet engine operates "naked." They are all inside a nacelle or a fuselage.
Quote from: Katana
Quite controversial, turbofans behave better than turbojets at M3.

D-30F6 of Mig31 is modified from high bypass civil version D-30, bypass ratio is reduced but yet higher than typical military low bypass turbofans.

At M2~M3, the core runs at idle speed, and the afterburner feds air mainly from large bypass duct. This solved overheating problem in R-15 turbojet of MIG25.
AIUI this was suggested in the US for their SST programme in the late 60's/early 70's under the name "fan burning." The issue remains, the higher the airflow speed you're looking to decellerate from the hotter that flow will be. Once you get to M5 that's still not enough and you're probably looking at some kind of liquid injection, or you go with the US response of a SCramjet. 
Turbofans comparable to naked J58 could also be fitted with J58 styled nacelle.
Air flow total temperature after deceleration is yet acceptable for titanium parts at M4, this differs form M5+.
SST does not need to cross M5 and become hypersonic.

Shuttles and maneuverable ICBM RVs are technically strictly hypersonic. But people does not talk this way. Hypersonic vehicles (even rocket boosted gliders now) are boasted by their advocates as new technology, as if Shuttle and ICBM never existed.

X-51 based missile concepts have been abandoned. Fuel economy of X-51 is not very good, presumably NOTHING have satisfactory fuel economy at M5 for the size of a missile.

For aircraft, M4 turboramjet is practical enough when M6 is appreciable (e.g. SST). If M4 can't escape SAM interception, M6 is also dangerous.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 04/13/2018 07:12 pm
Turbofans comparable to naked J58 could also be fitted with J58 styled nacelle.
Air flow total temperature after deceleration is yet acceptable for titanium parts at M4, this differs form M5+.
SST does not need to cross M5 and become hypersonic.
True. But WRT to the thread title it's vehicles at or over M5.
Quote from: Katana
Shuttles and maneuverable ICBM RVs are technically strictly hypersonic. But people does not talk this way. Hypersonic vehicles (even rocket boosted gliders now) are boasted by their advocates as new technology, as if Shuttle and ICBM never existed.
Shuttle used aerodynamic lift down to the ground, as did Buran, as does X37b. As for Boost/glide concepts in the US they date back to the 1950's Bell Aerospace "BOMI" ideas.  Anyone thinking of these as "new" has a very short memory. I'd always recommend TA Heppenheimers "Surviving the Heat Barrier" for a good history of US hypersonics work.
Quote from: Katana
X-51 based missile concepts have been abandoned. Fuel economy of X-51 is not very good, presumably NOTHING have satisfactory fuel economy at M5 for the size of a missile.
And yet the US persist with yet another SCramjet project every few years.  :(
Quote from: Katana
For aircraft, M4 turboramjet is practical enough when M6 is appreciable (e.g. SST). If M4 can't escape SAM interception, M6 is also dangerous.
I'd agree SST <> hypersonic, but again the thread title is general hypersonic flight topics.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Katana on 04/13/2018 09:27 pm
To be hypersonic for this thread
To be civil for this forum
To be technically viable
To be economically appreciable

Which ongoing project could satisfy all these constraints?

BFS only?
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 04/14/2018 07:40 am
To be hypersonic for this thread
To be civil for this forum
To be technically viable
To be economically appreciable

Which ongoing project could satisfy all these constraints?

BFS only?
Actually the criterion is basically "Stuff that's not SABRESkylon that goes faster than M5."
Outside pretty much everything else.
But note the discussion on military uses of this technology are a site rule, not linked to this thread.
That said I didn't note any pruning when the question of WMD delivery by Skylon came up.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Ludus on 04/15/2018 08:27 am
It’s a lot easier to travel at very high speeds if you go above the atmosphere and people have been doing it this way for more than half a century. I get that there’s a sort of engineering challenge that drives R&D into hypersonic flight in the atmosphere, but is there any serious purpose for it beyond what would follow from cheap orbital launch like BFR? It seems a bit like the teams trying to set new land speed records. It’s a cool challenge, it might produce some interesting spinoffs, there might be some niche military applications, but it’s not real important.

There have been a series of Russian announcements about new weapons that seem kind of retro and silly. At best they’re produced out of a grossly exaggerated concern about the effectiveness of Star Wars anti missile systems. Claiming your missiles can hit targets “anywhere in the world” seems oblivious to the fact their missiles could do that in 1960. Saying they’re hypersonic is the same thing. They were hypersonic 50 years ago.

Am I misunderstanding something?
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: gosnold on 04/15/2018 09:25 am
Ballistic trajectories are predictable. The point of hypersonics is not only the speed, it is the maneuvrability. It makes them very hard to target.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 04/15/2018 09:34 am
It’s a lot easier to travel at very high speeds if you go above the atmosphere and people have been doing it this way for more than half a century. I get that there’s a sort of engineering challenge that drives R&D into hypersonic flight in the atmosphere, but is there any serious purpose for it beyond what would follow from cheap orbital launch like BFR? It seems a bit like the teams trying to set new land speed records. It’s a cool challenge, it might produce some interesting spinoffs, there might be some niche military applications, but it’s not real important.

There have been a series of Russian announcements about new weapons that seem kind of retro and silly. At best they’re produced out of a grossly exaggerated concern about the effectiveness of Star Wars anti missile systems. Claiming your missiles can hit targets “anywhere in the world” seems oblivious to the fact their missiles could do that in 1960. Saying they’re hypersonic is the same thing. They were hypersonic 50 years ago.

Am I misunderstanding something?
Yes and no.

Ballistic missiles liken the Pershin II could do this back in the 80's but the actual issue is Isp.

A solid rocket ICBM is about 250-260secs. A liquid fuel one (like the kind the Russians still operate) around 330 (with T/W ratio of 100+:1) secs and a LOX/LH2 around 380secs at launch, 450secs in vacuum (with a T/W ratio of maybe 60:1 at launch).

But a bad air breather hits 2000secs (like a SCramjet, with a T/W ratio of maybe 2:1) and a good one can hit 3000secs (with a T/W ratio of 14:1).

That gives you a vehicle that can be a lot more structure than fuel (IE a bigger warhead), or just a lot smaller to begin with.  The siren dream of SCramjets is the (supposed) belief they can deliver thrust almost to orbit velocity.

The real down side of ballistic missiles is they look exactly like an ICBM attack on radar. The closer to the launch site  you get the higher that trajectory has to go up to come down again (at least AFAIK for solid fueled types).

OTOH if you could get into an aircraft an a normal airport and it could fly you to your destination at 5x faster than a "normal" aircraft without the drama of going to an offshore launch platform, multiple g's of acceleration and a stage separation/engine ignition even that must work every time which would you prefer?

BTW during its 27 years of passenger service various air forces ran chase exercises with Concorde. IIRC only one type caught it, because none could sustain M2 long enough, while Concorde operated at M2 without after burner (or carrying the weight of swing wings, a common design strategy at the time).
Title: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 04/19/2018 04:55 pm
USAF awards Lockheed Martin $928 million contract for hypersonic cruise missile

Quote
The indefinite-delivery and indefinite quantity award worth up to $928 million suggests the USAF is ready to move past several decades of development and demonstrations of weapons that can cruise for long distances at speeds exceeding Mach 5.

The award came out of a competitive acquisition process in which three offers where received, according to an award notice. The USAF did not name the other bidders, though when the competition was announced in July 2017 the service named Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Raytheon Missile Systems as the only acceptable bidders due to timeframe constraints.

The USAF is accelerating its efforts to develop hypersonic weapons and aircraft in light of advances and investments made in hypersonic technology by China and Russia.

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/usaf-awards-lockheed-martin-928-million-contract-fo-447826/

More detail here.

Quote
Both are part of a program to develop advanced prototypes that can later be fielded on U.S. jets.

“The Air Force is using prototyping to explore the art of the possible and to advance these technologies to a capability as quickly as possible,” Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek said.

Lockheed Martin executives have emphasized hypersonic aircraft and weaponry as an area of intense interest.

“We are committed to the development of state-of-the-art hypersonic technologies, and we are excited to get to work on the Hypersonic Conventional Strike Weapon program,” Jon Snyder, Lockheed Martin’s vice president for Air Force Strategic Programs, said in an emailed statement.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/business/wp/2018/04/18/air-force-awards-massive-hypersonic-weapon-contract-to-lockheed-martin/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.f0c783820101
Title: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 04/23/2018 06:48 am
Argonne National Lab High-energy X-ray Facility’s Hypersonic Test Role

Quote
Despite major strides in air-breathing hypersonic scramjet technology, developers of high-speed propulsion systems for future weapons, reconnaissance vehicles and space access still lack crucial knowledge about the fundamental flow physics and combustion chemistry at the engine’s heart. Although a better understanding of key aerothermodynamics inside scramjets has been gained through computational fluid dynamics modeling and other diagnostic methods, as well as trial and error in ...

http://m.aviationweek.com/aviation-week-space-technology/argonne-national-lab-high-energy-x-ray-facility-s-hypersonic-test-rol

Air Force puts nearly $1B behind new long-range, hypersonic weapon; taps Lockheed to lead (https://insidedefense.com/daily-news/air-force-puts-nearly-1b-behind-new-long-range-hypersonic-weapon-taps-lockheed-lead)


Quote
The Air Force has established a nearly $1 billion program to prototype a long-range, air-launched, hypersonic strike weapon and Lockheed Martin has elbowed away two other competitors to win the project, the service has revealed.

Lockheed, which beat a Raytheon-Boeing team and another competitor for the Hypersonic Conventional Strike Weapon prototyping effort, now assumes a dominant role in leading two parallel Air Force projects that aim to develop a long-range, conventional prompt strike capability.

Spokesman for two other contractors the Air Force invited to compete in the HCSW program -- Northrop Grumman and Orbital ATK -- both declined to confirm whether their companies had submitted a bid or comment in any way on the contract award. Northrop is slated to acquire Orbital ATK this year. Debroah VanNierop, a Boeing spokeswoman, confirmed to Inside Defense the company was a subcontractor on a proposal led by Raytheon.

On April 18, the Air Force announced Huntsville, AL-based Lockheed Martin Space to be the “successful offeror” of a contract potentially worth $928 million to design, develop, and perform engineering, systems integration, test, logistics, planning and aircraft integration support of all elements of a hypersonic, conventional, air-launched, stand-off weapon.

The objective of the HCSW program, informally called “Hacksaw,” is to develop long-range hypersonic missile prototypes that can be integrated on the service's current bomber and fighter aircraft fleets and be supported in all operations, mission-planning and sustainment efforts, according to the Air Force.

“This effort is one of two hypersonic weapon prototyping efforts being pursued by the Air Force to accelerate hypersonics research and development,” said Ann Stefanek, an Air Force spokeswoman. “The Air Force is using prototyping to explore the art-of-the-possible and to advance these technologies to a capability as quickly as possible.”

The second Air Force prototyping project is the Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW), with support from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, to also develop a long-range, prompt strike capability.

Stefanek declined to offer further detail about the programs, specifically whether the core technology of the projects was based around an air-breathing, hypersonic system or a hypersonic boost-glide system.

The full scope of the Hacksaw program -- which is slated to potentially fund work through engineering and manufacturing development -- was not previously known. The project was hatched in FY-18 as part of a “Lifecycle Prototyping” effort that sought $153 million to fund numerous technologies; it is not clear how much of that is allocated to Hacksaw. The Air Force's FY-19 budget request establishes a dedicated Hacksaw budget line, seeking $89.3 million. Future funding for the hypersonic conventional strike program was not previously disclosed.

By comparison, the ARRW -- which also was broken out from the Lifecycle Prototyping project for the first time in the FY-19 budget -- is seeking $169 million, a potentially bigger program.

The Air Force, according to the FY-19 budget request, plans to "leverage the synergistic efforts" of DARPA's existing contract with Lockheed Martin for a Tactical Boost Glide demonstration to further the ARRW program. It appears the Air Force's new ARRW project will overlap with the TBG program -- a joint DARPA-Air Force initiative to develop and demonstrate technologies to enable future air-launched, tactical-range hypersonic boost glide systems.

The scale of the Hacksaw project is comparable to the Pentagon's marquee effort over the last decade to develop technologies for a long-range hypersonic strike weapon as part of the Conventional Prompt Strike program, run by the Office of the Secretary of Defense. The Defense Department has spent $1.2 billion over the last 10 years to develop a boost-glide weapon and earlier this year disclosed plans to put the Navy in charge of the project beginning in FY-20, with the goal of outfitting submarines with a hypersonic strike weapon.

Last summer, the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center -- after asking industry to register interest in supporting Hacksaw requirements -- determined five companies were able to meet the service's needs: Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Orbital ATK and Raytheon.

In the end, the Air Force received a total of three offers from industry, according to the announcement.

The Hacksaw program is being financed with funds from its advanced component development and prototyping accounts and is part of a larger Technology Transition Program to “demonstrate, prototype, and experiment with technologies and concepts to enable or accelerate their transition to acquisition programs and/or operational use,” according to the Air Force budget.

“The Technology Transition Program addresses the gap between initial technology or concept development and demonstration, and successful acquisition and operational capability implementation,” according to the Air Force's FY-19 budget request.

The Hypersonic Conventional Strike Weapon project integrates Air Force-enabled “system technologies into a prototype that will demonstrate the viability of this concept to be fielded as a long-range prompt strike capability,” according to the service's FY-19 budget request. “HCSW will design, develop, manufacture, and test, a number of prototype vehicles to inform decisions concerning HCSW acquisition and production,” the budget states.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 04/25/2018 08:09 pm
Quote
The Pentagon wants its new AI center up and running in six months, but is taking a different track on directed energy and hypersonics, Deputy Defense Secretary Shanahan says.

Quote
While it’s clear the Pentagon leadership thinks they have a winner in the nascent JAIC, they’re doing things differently when it comes to hypersonics and directed energy weapons. In establishing new directed energy programs, “it may not be that there’s a center,” Shanahan said. “What we may do is parse things out until someone’s doing power supply, somebody’s doing beam control. It’s different aspects of the technology that we’ll probably parse out, either to a service or one of the research labs.”

Griffin has repeatedly said that developing new hypersonic capabilities is his top priority, and Shanahan confirmed Tuesday that Griffin has already delivered an interim report on his plans for ten key technology areas for the Pentagon, with a final report due on his desk in July.

https://breakingdefense.com/2018/04/pentagon-run-ai-center-coming-hypersonics-work-in-progress/
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 04/28/2018 09:39 am
Now I wonder what project or projects this is going to concern.

Quote
We can expect an important announcement in a few weeks that “a significant acceleration is doable” of the Air Force’s hypersonic efforts. Roper said he’d completed a review of all the service’s work on hypersonic, one of the Pentagon’s top priorities

https://breakingdefense.com/2018/04/big-hypersonic-news-coming-faster-progress-likely-roper/
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 05/09/2018 08:23 pm
Congress eyes conventional hypersonic triad, seeks details of marquee DOD hypersonic project (https://insidedefense.com/daily-news/congress-eyes-conventional-hypersonic-triad-seeks-details-marquee-dod-hypersonic-project)


Quote
Draft legislation would require Pentagon brass to validate a requirement for a potential conventional hypersonic strike triad -- setting the stage for a ground-, sea-, and air-launched ultra-fast boost-glide weapon -- along with cost estimates for accelerating initial operational capability of each notional leg of this fledgling new class of weapon.

The chairman's mark of the House Armed Services Committee's version of the fiscal year 2019 defense authorization bill includes provisions that aim to tighten congressional oversight of the Conventional Prompt Strike program, the U.S. military's marquee effort to develop an intermediate-range hypersonic strike capability.

The draft legislation, made public May 7, calls for the defense secretary to provide Congress by Nov. 30 "a validated requirement for ground-, sea-, or air-launched (or a combination thereof) conventional prompt global strike hypersonic capabilities."

The Pentagon does not have a formal acquisition program of record for a hypersonic strike capability. The Defense Department is exploring potential boost-glide hypersonic technologies as part of a research and development effort overseen by the Office of the Secretary of Defense, a project that has spent nearly $1 billion to date, with plans to allocate nearly $2 billion over the next five years.

In accordance with congressional guidance in the FY-16 National Defense Authorization Act, DOD plans a materiel development decision for a Conventional Prompt Strike capability in FY-20, the initial gateway to a formal acquisition effort. In preparation, the Pentagon earlier this year revealed plans to give the Navy responsibility to manage development of the Conventional Strike Program beginning in FY-19.

At congressional direction in the FY-18 NDAA, Pentagon leaders are drafting a "plan to reach an early operational capability for the conventional prompt strike weapon system by not later than September 30, 2022." The report, due in June, is to be prepared by the Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman in consultation with the heads of U.S. European, Pacific and Strategic commands, and will outline "the required level of resources that is consistent with the level of priority associated to the capability gap."

The high-level Pentagon panel responsible for endorsing the need for a new weapon system program -- the Joint Requirements Oversight Council -- has examined the issue of hypersonic strike at least twice in the last five years. In September 2016, the panel re-validated the requirement for Conventional Prompt Strike as part of a larger "family of systems," according to the Joint Staff.

And in 2013, the JROC validated the Conventional Prompt Strike -- which previously aspired to have a "global" reach -- focus on demonstrating the feasibility of a hypersonic, boost-glide weapon for a potential intermediate-range strike system that could be deployed independent of service or service platform.

In addition, the draft legislation unveiled by the House this week would direct the Pentagon's acquisition executive to deliver a report by Jan. 31, 2019 on a plan to "deliver a conventional prompt global strike weapon system" by the 2022 target date. That report, according to the draft legislation, is to include "options with cost estimates for accelerating the initial capability for such a system" and an outline of the policy issues required by Pentagon leaders in order to "employ hypersonic offense capabilities from each potential launch platform of such system."

The proposed bill also seeks an explanation from DOD of the "assessed level of ambiguity and misinterpretation risk relating to the conventional prompt global strike weapon system," including any potential confusion by adversaries as to whether the hypersonic strike weapon could be carrying a nuclear warhead. In addition, the report is to outline potential risks related to Conventional Prompt Strike and "platform ambiguity" and "perceptions of the survivability of strategic nuclear forces."
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 05/10/2018 10:36 pm
Congress eyes conventional hypersonic triad, seeks details of marquee DOD hypersonic project (https://insidedefense.com/daily-news/congress-eyes-conventional-hypersonic-triad-seeks-details-marquee-dod-hypersonic-project)


Quote
The proposed bill also seeks an explanation from DOD of the "assessed level of ambiguity and misinterpretation risk relating to the conventional prompt global strike weapon system," including any potential confusion by adversaries as to whether the hypersonic strike weapon could be carrying a nuclear warhead. In addition, the report is to outline potential risks related to Conventional Prompt Strike and "platform ambiguity" and "perceptions of the survivability of strategic nuclear forces."
Which obviously would be very high for something that looks anything like an ICBM, but rather less so with a more horizontal trajectory.

Since most of the US concepts are based around a SCramjet they will be highly risky and eyewateringly expensive.

Boost glide is the one that looks simplest to actually implement by sticking something winged on a big rocket, but we're back to how much it resembles an ICBM, and of course how small would it have to be before an adversary would rule out that it could be fitted with a nuclear warhead. The answer to which is "very small indeed," given the US has put nuclear warheads on 155 artillery shells.
Title: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 05/12/2018 07:52 am
National Hypersonics Initiative

Quote
The committee is aware of a National Hypersonics Initiative under
development by the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, in
conjunction with the military services, defense labs, and the Defense Advanced
Research Projects Agency. The committee recognizes the growing amount of
resources and emphasis placed by the Department of Defense on the research and
development of hypersonic vehicle technology. The committee supports the
development of a National Hypersonics Initiative, and believes it is prudent and consistent with the roles and responsibilities granted to the Department’s Joint Hypersonics Transition Office as authorized in the National Defense Authorization
Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-91).
Therefore, the committee directs the Under Secretary of Defense for
Research and Engineering to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed
Services not later than September 15, 2018, on the status of the National
Hypersonics Initiative

OpFires
PROGRAM OBJECTIVE AND DESCRIPTION:


Quote
The objective of the OpFires program is to develop and demonstrate a novel groundlaunched
system enabling advanced weapons to penetrate modern enemy air defenses
and rapidly and precisely engage critical time sensitive targets. DARPA seeks to develop
an advanced booster capable of delivering a variety of payloads at a variety of ranges.
OpFires will focus on the development of innovative propulsion to maximize the
operational range envelope of the system and adapt to a variety of potential payloads.
The program plans to conduct a series of subsystem tests designed to evaluate
component design and system compatibility, and assess the value of innovative
propulsion system concepts. It is planned to culminate in an integrated end-to-end flight
test campaign following integration with a compatible mobile ground launch platform.
The OpFires program includes two separate and successive tasks, the Propulsion System
task and the Weapon System Integration task. Each task will have a separate BAA. This
Proposers Day and associated BAA will encompass the Propulsion System task. The
Propulsion System task will focus on developing and demonstrating innovative
propulsion concepts for flexible-range boosters and will be conducted in two phases.
Phase 1 will include propulsion system preliminary design and proof of concept testing
to demonstrate key elements of the propulsion system design. Phase 2 is anticipated to
mature designs to critical design level and conduct hot/static fires of at least two
representative test articles.
A BAA for the Weapon System Integration task is planned for release in FY 2019.
Title: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 05/21/2018 04:49 pm
https://twitter.com/inbarspace/status/998288620330070016?s=20

Quote
First display of "Lingyun” hypersonic chinese missile. Interesting platform  - soon to be developed into a near space weapon system?

More here.

“Lingyun 1,a hypersonic aircraft that can travel at more than five times the speed of sound, or 6,100 kilometer per hour, made its public debut at the museum on Saturday. It was developed by the College of Aerospace Science and Technology at the National University of Defense Technology.

The craft has a Chinese-designed supersonic combustion ramjet engine, also known as scramjet, the exhibition panel relates. The missile-shaped Lingyun made its maiden flight in 2015, making it the second low-cost, multipurpose hypersonic vehicle known to the public - the other is the HIFiRE vehicle jointly developed by the United States and Australia."

source: Zhang Zhihao, "Spotlight focused on science, tech frontiers", China Daily, May 21, 2018
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201805/21/WS5b0216afa3103f6866ee982d.html
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 05/22/2018 07:06 am
https://twitter.com/inbarspace/status/998288620330070016?s=20

Quote
First display of "Lingyun” hypersonic chinese missile. Interesting platform  - soon to be developed into a near space weapon system?

More here.

“Lingyun 1,a hypersonic aircraft that can travel at more than five times the speed of sound, or 6,100 kilometer per hour, made its public debut at the museum on Saturday. It was developed by the College of Aerospace Science and Technology at the National University of Defense Technology.

The craft has a Chinese-designed supersonic combustion ramjet engine, also known as scramjet, the exhibition panel relates. The missile-shaped Lingyun made its maiden flight in 2015, making it the second low-cost, multipurpose hypersonic vehicle known to the public - the other is the HIFiRE vehicle jointly developed by the United States and Australia."

source: Zhang Zhihao, "Spotlight focused on science, tech frontiers", China Daily, May 21, 2018
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201805/21/WS5b0216afa3103f6866ee982d.html
It looks like an air breathing missile but beyond that it's difficult to say what it is.

I'm guessing the nose angle and the inlet gap might give a few clues and it's size suggests its fuel load, if we know wheather it's solid or liquid fueled.

I'm guessing the US has a few satellite videos of it on IR, but the key parts are what it's made of.
I'll also note it doesn't seem to use forebody compression in the way US designs do. That makes it much  more like conventional ramjet design. Even the drawings of Aerojets "Dual Mode Ramjet" show the SCramjet part being an open duct. IIRC this is because the walls of an enclosed duct add too much drag, which should tell you how finely balanced an SCramjet is between working just about working, and not working at all.

Note that a conventional M5 ramjet would still be a very significant feat on an operational weapon.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 05/22/2018 02:56 pm
Thank you for the analysis. Are you particularly impressed by it from an engineering prospective?
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 05/23/2018 12:11 pm
Thank you for the analysis. Are you particularly impressed by it from an engineering prospective?
We know you can build a SCramjet vehicle that can last 10 minutes at M5+ if the engine is 1/2 the GTOW.

But  building a  vehicle which is a) M5+ capable b)Air breathing c)Carries significant payload (other than the engine itself) and is an operational vehicle is (if real) very impressive.

Bonus points if they're planning to fly it as a sea skimmer to make detection difficult. The air density at Sea Level (compared to say 70 000 feet) will give skin temperatures close to re-entry  temperatures, although the heating issues even at high altitude are far from trivial. Most of the materials are pretty heavy, multiplying the problems of a propulsion system with poor T/W ratio.

Assuming this is real, and not some PR mockup it is a formidable feat of engineering, even if it's actually a ramjet, rather than a SCramjet. Patriot and the Israeli "Iron Dome" systems and the Russian -400 systems are equally fast, but all rely on large rockets to do so.

Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: wizzard3 on 05/26/2018 05:04 am
it has an aerospike nose
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 05/26/2018 08:57 am
it has an aerospike nose
Welcome to the forum.

Quite a lot of ramjets have a spiked nose, but here the air is going in, not out of the slot.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 06/04/2018 08:04 pm
Lack of funds causes USAF to skip hypersonic cruise missile competition

Quote
The US Air Force skipped a more extensive competition for its nearly $1 billion hypersonic cruise missile development contract due to lack of available funds to pay multiple sources to develop alternative prototypes, according to a newly-released government document.

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/lack-of-funds-causes-usaf-to-skip-hypersonic-cruise-449192/

Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 06/13/2018 08:24 pm
https://aerospaceamerica.aiaa.org/features/hypersonic-weapons-race/

Quote
Even before Russian President Vladimir Putin’s saber rattling this year about high-speed weapons, the U.S. was laying plans to sharpen its focus on hypersonic weapons, motivated mainly by China’s ambitious research and weapons tests. The Trump Pentagon wants to put this new focus in place in the 2019 budget.

Chinese researchers have been publishing technical papers at a blistering pace about their fundamental research into hypersonic flight, loosely defined as maneuvering in the atmosphere at speeds above 6,000 kph. Flying faster than Mach 5 could be a handy way to travel, but for the leaders in this field — China, Russia and the U.S. — the emphasis has shifted to weapons. At least some of China’s research appears to be headed in that direction, based on references to missiles in the published papers, although my inquiries to the Chinese Embassy’s press office about the purpose of this research went unreturned. The Pentagon reported to Congress earlier this year that China has conducted 20 times as many hypersonic flight tests as the U.S. The most noteworthy recent test was in November, when China flew a new hypersonic missile, the DF-17, capable of flying 1,800 to 2,500 kilometers, as first reported by The Diplomat website.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 06/20/2018 07:22 pm
A key technology for something like the SR-72.

USAF set to begin dual mode ramjet design for hypersonic vehicle

Quote
The US Air Force has set plans to begin the competitive phase of a plan to develop a dual mode ramjet for a new class of missiles and aircraft with top speeds over Mach 3.

Quote
”The overall objective is to identify, develop, mature, and demonstrate technologies that enable refurbishable high speed (M>3) capability for intelligence/surveillance/reconnaissance (ISR) and strike platforms by 2028, and for quick-turn fully reusable systems by 2035,” the AFRL stated in 2016.

“It is envisioned that the earlier demonstration systems will be air-launched utilising rocket-boost to reach hypersonic cruise speeds, and later employing combined cycle engines that permit runway operations,” the AFRL says.

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/usaf-set-to-begin-dual-mode-ramjet-design-for-hypers-449581/
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 06/20/2018 08:55 pm
Hypersonic Flight: Progress and Challenges

Quote
Join the Doolittle Institute, the Northwest Florida Chapter of the American Institute of Aerospace and Aeronautics (AIAA), and the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) for our distinguished speaker series. For this speaking engagement, we’ll welcome Dr. Mark Lewis as he discusses Hypersonic Flight: Progress and Challenges on the Way to High Mach Systems.

Dr. Lewis, a longtime advocate of hypersonics, is currently the director of the Science and Technology Policy Institute  within the Institute for Defense Analyses, which is one of the nation’s Federally-Funded Research & Development Centers (FFRDC). He is a former Chief Scientist of the Air Force as well as past national president of AIAA. You can read Dr. Lewis’ full bio here.

The lecture will begin at 10:00 a.m. in the Doolittle Institute’s Shangri-La Auditorium; a networking and meet-and-greet will follow. The event is free and open to the public.

http://defensewerx.org/events/hypersonic-flight-progress-and-challenges/
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 06/26/2018 12:56 pm
Boeing Unveils Hypersonic Airliner Concept

Quote
Boeing Commercial Airplanes (BCA) has joined with hypersonic specialists at the company’s Research & Technology unit to study a Mach 5 passenger transport capable of crossing the Atlantic in 2 hr. or the Pacific in 3. The initial concept vehicle, unveiled at the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Aviation 2018 conference in Atlanta, is a preliminary step toward a long-range development plan targeted at both commercial and military applications. Although not ...

http://m.aviationweek.com/commercial-aviation/boeing-unveils-hypersonic-airliner-concept
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: RobLynn on 06/26/2018 10:00 pm
Boeing Unveils Hypersonic Airliner Concept

Quote
Boeing Commercial Airplanes (BCA) has joined with hypersonic specialists at the company’s Research & Technology unit to study a Mach 5 passenger transport capable of crossing the Atlantic in 2 hr. or the Pacific in 3. The initial concept vehicle, unveiled at the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Aviation 2018 conference in Atlanta, is a preliminary step toward a long-range development plan targeted at both commercial and military applications. Although not ...

http://m.aviationweek.com/commercial-aviation/boeing-unveils-hypersonic-airliner-concept

This concept is garbage.  Windows?  when Mach 5 stagnation temperatures are >1000°C?
Also given L/D of only 4-5 for hypersonic planes your range is terrible - likely less than 5000km unless you use Liquid Hydrogen, in which case you have to make the craft huge for the necessary volume of tankage.  And of course given the huge engine power the sonic boom is going to be staggering.

Reaction Engines Lapcat is a reasonable approach, this is nothing but a BS advertisement by Boeing. 
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 06/26/2018 10:06 pm
Boeing Unveils Hypersonic Airliner Concept

Quote
Boeing Commercial Airplanes (BCA) has joined with hypersonic specialists at the company’s Research & Technology unit to study a Mach 5 passenger transport capable of crossing the Atlantic in 2 hr. or the Pacific in 3. The initial concept vehicle, unveiled at the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Aviation 2018 conference in Atlanta, is a preliminary step toward a long-range development plan targeted at both commercial and military applications. Although not ...

http://m.aviationweek.com/commercial-aviation/boeing-unveils-hypersonic-airliner-concept

This concept is garbage.  Windows?  when Mach 5 stagnation temperatures are >1000°C?
Also given L/D of only 4-5 for hypersonic planes your range is terrible - likely less than 5000km unless you use Liquid Hydrogen, in which case you have to make the craft huge for the necessary volume of tankage.  And of course given the huge engine power the sonic boom is going to be staggering.

Reaction Engines Lapcat is a reasonable approach, this is nothing but a BS advertisement by Boeing.

Did you even bother reading the article because if you had you would see this will be using technology from REL.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: EnigmaSCADA on 06/27/2018 12:09 am
Boeing Unveils Hypersonic Airliner Concept

Quote
Boeing Commercial Airplanes (BCA) has joined with hypersonic specialists at the company’s Research & Technology unit to study a Mach 5 passenger transport capable of crossing the Atlantic in 2 hr. or the Pacific in 3. The initial concept vehicle, unveiled at the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Aviation 2018 conference in Atlanta, is a preliminary step toward a long-range development plan targeted at both commercial and military applications. Although not ...

http://m.aviationweek.com/commercial-aviation/boeing-unveils-hypersonic-airliner-concept

This concept is garbage.  Windows?  when Mach 5 stagnation temperatures are >1000°C?
Also given L/D of only 4-5 for hypersonic planes your range is terrible - likely less than 5000km unless you use Liquid Hydrogen, in which case you have to make the craft huge for the necessary volume of tankage.  And of course given the huge engine power the sonic boom is going to be staggering.

Reaction Engines Lapcat is a reasonable approach, this is nothing but a BS advertisement by Boeing.

Did you even bother reading the article because if you had you would see this will be using technology from REL.

Boeing Unveils Hypersonic Airliner Concept

Quote
Boeing Commercial Airplanes (BCA) has joined with hypersonic specialists at the company’s Research & Technology unit to study a Mach 5 passenger transport capable of crossing the Atlantic in 2 hr. or the Pacific in 3. The initial concept vehicle, unveiled at the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Aviation 2018 conference in Atlanta, is a preliminary step toward a long-range development plan targeted at both commercial and military applications. Although not ...

http://m.aviationweek.com/commercial-aviation/boeing-unveils-hypersonic-airliner-concept

This concept is garbage.  Windows?  when Mach 5 stagnation temperatures are >1000°C?
Also given L/D of only 4-5 for hypersonic planes your range is terrible - likely less than 5000km unless you use Liquid Hydrogen, in which case you have to make the craft huge for the necessary volume of tankage.  And of course given the huge engine power the sonic boom is going to be staggering.

Reaction Engines Lapcat is a reasonable approach, this is nothing but a BS advertisement by Boeing.

Did you even bother reading the article because if you had you would see this will be using technology from REL.

Yeah, it helps to read the article before comment.

That said, does anyone really believe that Boeing is really serious about bringing such a thing to market for commercial travel? I'm asking honestly, I don't know the first thing about the intentions or business case for such a bird but the lessons of Concorde are pretty much commercial aerospace canon at this point so it would seem to me that heavy dose of skepticism is more than reasonable.

 I'd love to be wrong, but what makes anyone think this is a genuine effort to bring this craft into the market? As I said a few sentences ago, I'm very interested/hopeful for things like this, but count me as a non-believer in this press release, I believe it when they deliver some to a customer (USG doesn't count).
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: A_M_Swallow on 06/27/2018 02:00 pm

Yeah, it helps to read the article before comment.

That said, does anyone really believe that Boeing is really serious about bringing such a thing to market for commercial travel? I'm asking honestly, I don't know the first thing about the intentions or business case for such a bird but the lessons of Concorde are pretty much commercial aerospace canon at this point so it would seem to me that heavy dose of skepticism is more than reasonable.

 I'd love to be wrong, but what makes anyone think this is a genuine effort to bring this craft into the market? As I said a few sentences ago, I'm very interested/hopeful for things like this, but count me as a non-believer in this press release, I believe it when they deliver some to a customer (USG doesn't count).


Concorde shows that there is a small market for fast first class travel across the Atlantic. About a half filled Concorde from London to New York per day.

edit:spelling
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 06/27/2018 04:19 pm
MDA Eyes Space Sensors To Track Hypersonic Threats

Quote
The agency already has midcourse discrimination sensors that will look out into space, such as the Long-Range Discrimination Radar that is expected to be operational by 2020 in Clear, Alaska.
“That requires you to do more than tracking,” Graves said. “You have to classify the target and then you have to discriminate the re-entry vehicle out from balloons, chaff or distractors.”
Another system, the Missile Defense Tracking System, would be positioned in space looking down at the Earth for the heat signature of a hypersonic threat, Greaves said. The idea is to continue to track the missile even if it is more sophisticated or the target grows dimmer. Hypersonic missiles do not fly in a predictable path the way that ballistic missiles do, and would need more continuous monitoring.

http://aviationweek.com/defense/mda-eyes-space-sensors-track-hypersonic-threats
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Lar on 06/28/2018 12:01 am

Yeah, it helps to read the article before comment.

That said, does anyone really believe that Boeing is really serious about bringing such a thing to market for commercial travel? I'm asking honestly, I don't know the first thing about the intentions or business case for such a bird but the lessons of Concorde are pretty much commercial aerospace canon at this point so it would seem to me that heavy dose of skepticism is more than reasonable.

 I'd love to be wrong, but what makes anyone think this is a genuine effort to bring this craft into the market? As I said a few sentences ago, I'm very interested/hopeful for things like this, but count me as a non-believer in this press release, I believe it when they deliver some to a customer (USG doesn't count).


Concorde shows that there is a small market for fast first last travel across the Atlantic. About a half filled Concorde from London to New York per day.
Class of service split is very price elastic. The market was that size at the Concorde fare point. But many many Concordes worth of passengers cross that way every day. It's not clear that the market at, say 20% higher[1] than a base economy fare is sitll 1/2 a Concorde.

1 - this premium is not necessarily reasonable, it may be higher, but if you compare Concorde fares to base economy fares of the day it was more like a 5X premium or more, not a 1.2X premium....
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: cwr on 06/28/2018 12:49 am

Yeah, it helps to read the article before comment.

That said, does anyone really believe that Boeing is really serious about bringing such a thing to market for commercial travel? I'm asking honestly, I don't know the first thing about the intentions or business case for such a bird but the lessons of Concorde are pretty much commercial aerospace canon at this point so it would seem to me that heavy dose of skepticism is more than reasonable.

 I'd love to be wrong, but what makes anyone think this is a genuine effort to bring this craft into the market? As I said a few sentences ago, I'm very interested/hopeful for things like this, but count me as a non-believer in this press release, I believe it when they deliver some to a customer (USG doesn't count).


Concorde shows that there is a small market for fast first last travel across the Atlantic. About a half filled Concorde from London to New York per day.
Class of service split is very price elastic. The market was that size at the Concorde fare point. But many many Concordes worth of passengers cross that way every day. It's not clear that the market at, say 20% higher[1] than a base economy fare is sitll 1/2 a Concorde.

1 - this premium is not necessarily reasonable, it may be higher, but if you compare Concorde fares to base economy fares of the day it was more like a 5X premium or more, not a 1.2X premium....

I've just stumbled across this thread.
My recollection from when I read the Boeing press release and some articles was 2 concerns:
1) My recollection of the core of Concorde's economic problem was triggered when it was banned
    from flying supersonically over land. Thus limiting its possible routes to just a few.
    However, NASA has been working on eliminating sonic booms for many years and recently
    declared victory but the image I saw with the Boeing press release looked like it had not
    used any of the NASA work. So I'd expect it to be banned from supersonic flight overland.
    Thus seems unlikely to be economical.
2) My recollection of the trans-atlantic flight that I saw described at the time of the Boeing
    press release seemed to be Concorde performance [mach 2] not Mach 5 performance.

At this remove, I may be mis-remembering the Boeing press release or confusing an inaccurate
article with the press release.

Thanks

Carl

Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 06/28/2018 01:40 pm
This is more easily accessible article on the hypersonic airliner from Boeing than the AW one. It also has some different quotage.

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/boeing-unveils-long-term-concept-for-hypersonic-airl-449749/
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Tulse on 06/28/2018 05:39 pm
These kind of releases really irritate me -- Boeing offered nothing in terms of actual seating, range, how it would be powered, or even any kind of specific timeline.  All the release had was a render for something that will certainly change radically in the two decades of its development.

I suppose Boeing's marketing department should be congratulated for getting so much attention for one JPEG.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 06/29/2018 07:14 am
These kind of releases really irritate me -- Boeing offered nothing in terms of actual seating, range, how it would be powered, or even any kind of specific timeline. 
All of which is "TBD"
Quote from: Tulse
All the release had was a render for something that will certainly change radically in the two decades of its development.

I suppose Boeing's marketing department should be congratulated for getting so much attention for one JPEG.
Indeed. This is corporate clickbait.  :(

OTOH Boeing's investment arm bought into Reaction Engines for (IIRC) about $20m.

That suggests (maybe) that after 6 decades of work having failed to develop an operational SCramjet powered system (be it missile, drone or crewed aircraft) some people might (just might) be considering alternatives that can be made to work in years (with adequate funding) rather than another couple of decades.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 06/30/2018 10:35 pm
Navy

Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Space, Sunnyvale, California, is awarded an
$11,877,482 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for Hypersonic Booster technology
development seeking to demonstrate technologies related to intermediate range
capability through booster design, fabrication and validation testing.  The work will be
performed in Sunnyvale, California (49.34 percent); Magna, Utah (34.16 percent); Elma,
New York (10.70 percent); Huntsville, Alabama (3.75 percent); and Mooresville, North
Carolina (2.05 percent), with an expected completion date of June 2019.  Fiscal 2018
research, development, test, and evaluation funds in the amount of $11,877,482 are
being obligated on this award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal
year.  This contract was a competitive acquisition.  Strategic Systems Programs,
Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity (N00030-18-C-0025).
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 07/10/2018 07:45 pm
http://aviationweek.com/future-aerospace/week-technology-july-9-13-2018

Quote
Lockheed Martin has secured another hypersonic weapon-related contract, with a $40.5 million U.S. Navy award for booster technology development. This follows the April award of a U.S. Air Force contract, potentially worth $928 million, to develop a hypersonic strike missile for fielding by 2022.

The latest Hypersonic Booster Technology Development (HBTD) contract, awarded by the Navy’s Strategic Systems Program, may be related to the Tactical Boost Glide (TBG) weapon that Lockheed’s Skunk Works is developing for DARPA. The air-launched, rocket-boosted missile demonstrator is scheduled to fly in 2019.

The request for proposals for HBTD refers to a “hypersonic glide body.” This sounds similar to TBG, which is a 500-nm-range unpowered glider accelerated to hypersonic speed by a rocket booster. DARPA’s fiscal 2019 budget request indicates the agency plans to develop a ship-launched version.

In addition to the TBG, the Skunk Works is under contract to develop DARPA’s Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept (HAWC), an air-launched, scramjet-powered missile demonstrator also scheduled to fly in 2019. Raytheon is also under contract to build a HAWC demonstrator.
Lockheed’s April contract, meanwhile, covers development of the Hypersonic Conventional Strike Missile (HCSW, pronounced “Hacksaw”), a simpler air-launched, rocket-powered weapon intended for more rapid development to arm existing Air Force fighters and bombers.

Lockheed also is working on the Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW, pronounced “Arrow”), a hypersonic boost-glide weapon being developed for the Air Force under an extension to the DARPA contract for TBG. ARRW and HAWC may be potential follow-ons to HCSW.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 07/14/2018 08:47 am
http://aviationweek.com/future-aerospace/week-technology-july-9-13-2018

Quote
Lockheed Martin has secured another hypersonic weapon-related contract, with a $40.5 million U.S. Navy award for booster technology development. This follows the April award of a U.S. Air Force contract, potentially worth $928 million, to develop a hypersonic strike missile for fielding by 2022.

The latest Hypersonic Booster Technology Development (HBTD) contract, awarded by the Navy’s Strategic Systems Program, may be related to the Tactical Boost Glide (TBG) weapon that Lockheed’s Skunk Works is developing for DARPA. The air-launched, rocket-boosted missile demonstrator is scheduled to fly in 2019.

The request for proposals for HBTD refers to a “hypersonic glide body.” This sounds similar to TBG, which is a 500-nm-range unpowered glider accelerated to hypersonic speed by a rocket booster. DARPA’s fiscal 2019 budget request indicates the agency plans to develop a ship-launched version.

In addition to the TBG, the Skunk Works is under contract to develop DARPA’s Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept (HAWC), an air-launched, scramjet-powered missile demonstrator also scheduled to fly in 2019. Raytheon is also under contract to build a HAWC demonstrator.
Lockheed’s April contract, meanwhile, covers development of the Hypersonic Conventional Strike Missile (HCSW, pronounced “Hacksaw”), a simpler air-launched, rocket-powered weapon intended for more rapid development to arm existing Air Force fighters and bombers.

Lockheed also is working on the Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW, pronounced “Arrow”), a hypersonic boost-glide weapon being developed for the Air Force under an extension to the DARPA contract for TBG. ARRW and HAWC may be potential follow-ons to HCSW.
Nice to see the boost-glide concept back in fashion after about 7 decades.

If any of these actually fly my money would be on the boost-glide missiles, if only because it's (sort of) like artillery, and the USN has plenty of experience with artillery.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 07/31/2018 05:55 pm
The US Air Force’s top acquisition exec talks hypersonic prototypes and more

https://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/farnborough/2018/07/27/the-us-air-forces-top-acquisition-exec-talks-hypersonic-prototypes-and-more/

Quote
You mentioned hypersonics as another area that involves prototyping. Can you say more about that?

Hypersonics is an area that I’m very passionate about. I feel like we need to not fall behind any country in this domain. And it was an area, coming in from SCO, I really wanted to dive into these prototyping efforts and see is there anything that we can do to speed them up.

And in fact, there is. This is another example of another program where the rapid authorities appear to make a big difference on how quickly you can go. But the big difference is really shifting the program so that it embraces the potential for failure. You saw this a lot from me at my last job. Failure is very much an option, and as a matter of fact, if we’re going to fail and we do it early in a program, we’ve probably learned something valuable that we need to understand before progressing
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 08/07/2018 07:46 pm
Lockheed Martin claims both USAF hypersonic programmes

Quote
But a new document reveals that the USAF awarded a separate deal to Lockheed’s Missiles and Fire Control division in July 2017 to rapidly develop and field the Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW, pronounced “Arrow”).

The ARRW, now assigned the designation AGM-183A, evolves from the Tactical Boost Glide (TBG) programme launched in 2014 by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). By using a rocket to boost the missile to very high altitudes, the unpowered ARRW then glides down to lower altitudes at speeds up to Mach 20.

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/lockheed-martin-claims-both-usaf-hypersonic-programm-450968/
Title: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 08/08/2018 06:30 am
Chinese waverider vehicle hits Mach 6

Quote
The test of the unmanned system, designated Starry Sky 2, took place recently in Northwestern China, reports the official China Daily newspaper.

During the flight the vehicle reached an altitude of 30km and undertook several maneuvers.

The wedge-shaped vehicle was initially lifted by a solid propellant rocket, before detaching and performing its flight. China Daily reports that the aircraft is a “waverider,” using its own shock waves to generate lift.

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/chinese-waverider-vehicle-hits-mach-6-450926/

More info.

https://defense-update.com/20180807_xingkong.html
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 08/08/2018 07:08 am
Chinese waverider vehicle hits Mach 6

Quote
The test of the unmanned system, designated Starry Sky 2, took place recently in Northwestern China, reports the official China Daily newspaper.

During the flight the vehicle reached an altitude of 30km and undertook several maneuvers.

The wedge-shaped vehicle was initially lifted by a solid propellant rocket, before detaching and performing its flight. China Daily reports that the aircraft is a “waverider,” using its own shock waves to generate lift.

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/chinese-waverider-vehicle-hits-mach-6-450926/

More info.

https://defense-update.com/20180807_xingkong.html
so it's a boost glide on an SRB, much like the RV on an ICBM, but not quite as fast.

IOW it could have been done anytime in the last 4 decades.  :(
Title: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 08/09/2018 06:51 am
Chinese waverider vehicle hits Mach 6

Quote
The test of the unmanned system, designated Starry Sky 2, took place recently in Northwestern China, reports the official China Daily newspaper.

During the flight the vehicle reached an altitude of 30km and undertook several maneuvers.

The wedge-shaped vehicle was initially lifted by a solid propellant rocket, before detaching and performing its flight. China Daily reports that the aircraft is a “waverider,” using its own shock waves to generate lift.

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/chinese-waverider-vehicle-hits-mach-6-450926/

More info.

https://defense-update.com/20180807_xingkong.html
so it's a boost glide on an SRB, much like the RV on an ICBM, but not quite as fast.

IOW it could have been done anytime in the last 4 decades. 

John you might this of interest as this is the original SCMP article.

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/2158524/chinas-hypersonic-aircraft-starry-sky-2-could-be-used
Title: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 08/22/2018 11:51 am
First U.S. Air Force Rapid Response Hypersonic Weapon: AGM-183A

Quote
As China announces tests of another hypersonic vehicle, the U.S. Air Force is revealing new details of its accelerating hypervelocity weapons development strategy as well as concepts for potential space-based surveillance systems to provide early warning. The Chinese vehicle, dubbed Starry Sky 2, was tested on Aug. 3 at Mach 5.5-6 at an altitude of 100,000 ft. Launched by rocket from the ground, and developed by the China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics, it is a waverider design that ...

http://m.aviationweek.com/defense/first-us-air-force-rapid-response-hypersonic-weapon-agm-183a
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 10/11/2018 11:07 am
Sandia’s Swerve Could Lead To First-gen Hypersonic Production Line]http://m.aviationweek.com/defense/sandia-s-swerve-could-lead-first-gen-hypersonic-production-line]Sandia’s Swerve Could Lead To First-gen Hypersonic Production Line (http://m.aviationweek.com/defense/sandia-s-swerve-could-lead-first-gen-hypersonic-production-line)

Quote
The veil of secrecy has lifted over one of the Pentagon’s largest hypersonic weapons programs, revealing new details of a triservice rush to adapt a nearly 40-year-old experimental maneuvering reentry vehicle concept into an air-, sea- or land-launched common-boost-glide weapon. The revelations provide deeper insight into plans to unite three separate projects—the U.S. Army’s Advanced Hypersonic Weapon (AHW), the Air Force’s Hypersonic Conventional Strike Weapon ...
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: CameronD on 10/11/2018 11:18 pm
Is this the start of a US/China hypersonic arms race?
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 01/24/2019 08:18 pm
Quote
PENTAGON The Navy is refitting its decades-old China Lake weapons testing and research site in the Mojave Desert to begin hosting hypersonic weapons testing from a variety of platforms, including undersea launchers.

A notice posted on a government contracting Website Tuesday night offered the first concrete evidence that the Pentagon is moving ahead on ambitious plans to develop a variety of weapons that can streak through the atmosphere and strike any target on the globe within an hour. The program, dubbed Conventional Prompt Strike, is a Pentagon-wide effort the Navy is taking a central role in developing, though no firm dates on the start of testing have been offered.

Part of the work being announced at China Lake fits into this plan, as there is a call for “conceptual design and operation” of an Underwater Test complex “which will include estimated costs, technology maturity and estimates on build schedules.”

https://breakingdefense.com/2019/01/navy-builds-hypersonic-test-ground-in-california/
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 03/06/2019 09:27 pm
Quote
Defense contractor Raytheon just signed a $63.3 million contract with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to develop a “tactical boost glide” (TBG) hypersonic weapons program.

The weapon system could reach hypersonic speeds of up to five times the sound barrier thanks to a rocket engine. A payload will then glide the rest of the way to the intended target — completely unpowered, without the ability to accelerate again. But operators will be able to maneuver it from a distance.

https://futurism.com/the-byte/raytheon-hypersonic-tactical-boost-glide
Title: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 03/07/2019 09:12 am
https://twitter.com/TheDEWLine/status/1100892943995539456

Quote
Lockheed’s booth at the Air Warfare Symposium this evening features an unlabeled hypersonic glide vehicle. It appears to be HTV-2. Not, sadly, ARRW or TBG.

https://twitter.com/TheDEWLine/status/1103454266428178433

Quote
The
@AFResearchLab
, which is having a busy week, released a new video showing the X-60A concept for a liquid fuel rocket testbed for hypersonic flight conditions. The X-60A also just passed a critical design review.

https://twitter.com/TheDEWLine/status/1103454266428178433

https://youtu.be/Ud-dE1OnbFg
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 03/07/2019 08:43 pm
X-60A hypersonic research rocket completes critical design review (https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/x-60a-hypersonic-research-rocket-completes-critical-456446/)

Quote
The US Air Force’s X-60A hypersonic research vehicle completed its critical design review.

The programme is now moving into the fabrication phase, with the initial flight of the vehicle scheduled to take place in about a year at Cecil Spaceport in Jacksonville, Florida, says the USAF. The liquid-rocket powered vehicle is designed to be launched after being dropped from under the belly of a NASA C-20A, a military version of the Gulfstream III business jet.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 05/16/2019 12:55 pm
https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=48154.msg1945772#msg1945772
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 06/14/2019 06:36 am
USAF B-52 in carry test of hypersonic ARRW missile (https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/usaf-does-carry-test-of-hypersonic-arrw-missile-on-b-458904/)

Quote
The US Air Force (USAF) conducted a carry test flight of its AGM-183A Air Launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW) on a Boeing B-52 Stratofortress aircraft on 12 June at Edwards AFB in California.

The prototype did not have explosives and was not released from the B-52 during the flight test, says the USAF. Instead, a sensor-only version of the ARRW prototype was carried externally by a B-52 during the test to gather environmental and aircraft handling data.

The test gathered data on drag and vibration impacts on the weapon itself and on the external carriage equipment of the B-52, says the USAF. The service is required to collect such data on its weapons systems via testing while undergoing development. The USAF did not make available pictures of the carry test.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 07/18/2019 11:08 am
Quote
The RAF has set out plans that could see the production of hypersonic planes flying at more than 3,000mph.

The Ministry of Defence has announced it is investing £10 million to develop new hypersonic engines that could be used to power manned fighter jets and drones. 

As missile technology makes flying combat aircraft increasingly risky, flying up to five times the speed of sound will mean fighter jets can destroy targets before they are engaged by enemy air defences.

Unveiling the two-year project at the Air and Space Power conference on Wednesday, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier, the head of the air force, said the new engines would be “exploring the boundaries of technology”.

“This is not an idea, a lot of this technology exists,” he said.

 “Our potential adversaries are looking at these things as well. We have noted very carefully what the Russians are doing.”

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/07/17/raf-develop-hypersonic-planes-could-top-speeds-3000mph-dodge/

Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Davide_sd on 08/01/2019 01:59 pm
Hello, I know this is probably not the best section where to post this question, but given the scarcity of places over the internet talking about hypersonic, I think here I might have some luck.

I purchased a used book "Hypersonic Airbreathing Propulsion" by W. H. Heiser and D. T. Pratt. Unfortunately, it didn't come with the related floppy disk containing the HAP software used through the book.

At first I thought it would not be a problem: the book is very well written and I can code the equations myself, but now I am stuck near the end of chapter 4, where I'm not able to reproduce the results of the Stream Thrust Analysis. I checked both the equations written in the book and my code, everything seems correct, still I'm not getting the results posted in the book.

Is there anyone who could share the aforementioned HAP software? Thanks in advance.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 08/06/2019 06:58 am
Quote
A scramjet engine made by Northrop Grumman set a record for the highest thrust produced by an air-breathing hypersonic engine in US Air Force history.

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/northrop-grumman-scramjet-engine-produces-record-thr-460103/
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 08/08/2019 06:29 am
Quote
After decades of false starts, America’s leading scramjet engine developers say scramjet-powered hypersonic flight is now within reach. That’s partly thanks to the coming of new 3D printing technology.

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/analysis-3d-printing-brings-scramjet-engines-closer-459857/
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Hog on 08/08/2019 08:19 pm
Quote
After decades of false starts, America’s leading scramjet engine developers say scramjet-powered hypersonic flight is now within reach. That’s partly thanks to the coming of new 3D printing technology.

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/analysis-3d-printing-brings-scramjet-engines-closer-459857/

"the X-51A was the first hypersonic vehicle to be propelled over a substantial period of time by a scramjet engine that used JP-7 jet fuel. That hydrocarbon avgas was once used by the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird. That military-grade jet fuel is more readily available then the exotic hydrogen gas that had been used to fuel previous hypersonic vehicles, such as the scramjet-powered NASA X-43A in 2004."

JP-7 is more "readily available than the exotic hydrogen gas". 

I cant see that being true.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: edzieba on 08/09/2019 07:07 am
JP-7 is more "readily available than the exotic hydrogen gas". 

I cant see that being true.
H2 needs cryogenic storage tanks, active top-up, explosion hazard control, nonstandard handling arrangements, etc.
JP-7 can be stuck in a barrel in a warehouse and left for a few years. You can transfer it with existing equipments as long as you clean it first (and then only to avoid contaminating the JP-7) using regular handling techniques. The stuff is even safer to mess with than regular avgas due to being so hard to ignite.

Not as available for purchase on the open market, but much more available if you want to use it operationally.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Hog on 08/09/2019 02:37 pm
JP-7 is more "readily available than the exotic hydrogen gas". 

I cant see that being true.
H2 needs cryogenic storage tanks, active top-up, explosion hazard control, nonstandard handling arrangements, etc.
JP-7 can be stuck in a barrel in a warehouse and left for a few years. You can transfer it with existing equipments as long as you clean it first (and then only to avoid contaminating the JP-7) using regular handling techniques. The stuff is even safer to mess with than regular avgas due to being so hard to ignite.

Not as available for purchase on the open market, but much more available if you want to use it operationally.
The article makes no mention of cryogenic hydrogen, it just states "hydrogen gas".  Unless the writer meant "hydrogen gas"  as in "hydrogen fuel".
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: edzieba on 08/10/2019 07:22 am
All H2-based ram- and scram-jets have used LH2 for fuel and cooling. None as far as I am aware have used gaseous H2.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 08/10/2019 07:48 am
All H2-based ram- and scram-jets have used LH2 for fuel and cooling. None as far as I am aware have used gaseous H2.
The HRE (the thing that sheared the tail fin off an X15) was designed to be GH2 powered and the X43 was due to the short duration of the test and the awkwardness of LH2 handling in small volumes.

AFAIK only the SR71 used JP-7. Eliminating JP-7 mfg costs was one of the benefits of cancelling the SR71 programme. However what wasn't used is still in storage. I've no idea how much but certainly enough for several flights of missile sized research vehicles.  Moving to an actual operational programme of unlimited duration would mean restarting production. JP-7 is basically only an option if you're USAF sponsored.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: edzieba on 08/10/2019 12:02 pm
While the HRE injected GH2 to the core, it stored it as LH2 and used the LH2 as coolant. The LH2 was heated during the cooling loop into a gas, and the gas allowed to expand through a tgurbine to drive the LH2 fuel turbopump before being injected into the HRE core.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 08/23/2019 06:35 am
This comes from the SABRE 7 thread

https://livestream.com/AIAAvideo/PropEnergy2019/videos/195282333

It includes a substantial part with Hermeus, who want to build a M5 commercial aircraft (NYC to London in 90 mins) and Inoveering, who want to build sensors for use on and test facilities for such vehicles, as well as REL US.

Hermeus was interesting. Their CEO said seems fairly sensible about their planned engine tech (jet engine/sub sonic combustion ramjet) but while he recognized that the heat problem is the big issue he was vague on solutions.   :(

NASA pitched the "High/Hypersonic Speed Research Aircraft" in the 1970's as a sort of follow on to the X-15. Not so much faster as more duration, possibly with runway takeoff.

There were various structure concepts (one of the goals was to test them, with the most conservative one being the the one the rest of the aircraft would be built out of)

Main options were TPS coatings (but doing that on the X-15 had not gone well  :( ) Skins cooled by fuel and high temperature skins.

Now aluminium is a 10x better conductor than steel. It has a much lower operating temp but would be easier to keep cool.

But materials tech and thermal management has gotten a lot better since the 70's.

Obvious tactics would be segmented heat pipes to avoid individual leaks stopping the whole system and eliminating circulation pumps. 

In materials Hermeus talked about Titanium and CMC but seemed to have no awareness of Pyrosic (oxide reinforced glass) or even of the dispersion strengthened High Temperature Aluminum. With CMC (or RCC depending on your background) I've always wondered if you approach the mfg's of RCC brake pads for larger blocks and machine them into the necessary components for leading edges, flaps etc.

HTA was developed as a powered metallurgy alloy for automotive pistons by NASA in the early 90's. Which BTW was what the alloy used to make Concorde (2618) was developed for originally in the 1920's.

HTA shifts the usage temp to 400c. That could have made Concorde a M3 aircraft without Titanium.

The downside of HTA is it does not support diffusion bonding or superplastic forming. OTOH AFAIK Concorde was built without either of those. 

Time will tell how well Hermeus executes it's plan and delivers what it's claiming.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 08/23/2019 07:53 am
This comes from the SABRE 7 thread

https://livestream.com/AIAAvideo/PropEnergy2019/videos/195282333

It includes a substantial part with Hermeus, who want to build a M5 commercial aircraft (NYC to London in 90 mins) and Inoveering, who want to build sensors for use on and test facilities for such vehicles, as well as REL US.

Hermeus was interesting. Their CEO said seems fairly sensible about their planned engine tech (jet engine/sub sonic combustion ramjet) but while he recognized that the heat problem is the big issue he was vague on solutions.   :(

NASA pitched the "High/Hypersonic Speed Research Aircraft" in the 1970's as a sort of follow on to the X-15. Not so much faster as more duration, possibly with runway takeoff.

There were various structure concepts (one of the goals was to test them, with the most conservative one being the the one the rest of the aircraft would be built out of)

Main options were TPS coatings (but doing that on the X-15 had not gone well  :( ) Skins cooled by fuel and high temperature skins.

Now aluminium is a 10x better conductor than steel. It has a much lower operating temp but would be easier to keep cool.

But materials tech and thermal management has gotten a lot better since the 70's.

Obvious tactics would be segmented heat pipes to avoid individual leaks stopping the whole system and eliminating circulation pumps. 

In materials Hermeus talked about Titanium and CMC but seemed to have no awareness of Pyrosic (oxide reinforced glass) or even of the dispersion strengthened High Temperature Aluminum. With CMC (or RCC depending on your background) I've always wondered if you approach the mfg's of RCC brake pads for larger blocks and machine them into the necessary components for leading edges, flaps etc.

HTA was developed as a powered metallurgy alloy for automotive pistons by NASA in the early 90's. Which BTW was what the alloy used to make Concorde (2618) was developed for originally in the 1920's.

HTA shifts the usage temp to 400c. That could have made Concorde a M3 aircraft without Titanium.

The downside of HTA is it does not support diffusion bonding or superplastic forming. OTOH AFAIK Concorde was built without either of those. 

Time will tell how well Hermeus executes it's plan and delivers what it's claiming.

I distinctly remember posting a link in this thread last year to a news article about researchers having developed a material suitable to use as the skin on hypersonic vehicles. Of course developing the material in the laboratory is a long way from building things out of it.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 08/24/2019 08:37 am

I distinctly remember posting a link in this thread last year to a news article about researchers having developed a material suitable to use as the skin on hypersonic vehicles. Of course developing the material in the laboratory is a long way from building things out of it.
Was that from some university in the north of England?

The thing with this subject is that there are no perfect materials for this problem.  :(

Roughly speaking you need to evaluate a material on the basis of density, use temperatures, stiffness, cost, brittleness and thermal conductivity. It would be nice if it's fairly easy to form as well.  :)

No material scores well on all metrics (I say "well" instead of highly because you rarely want high density or brittleness  in aircraft materials, unless its high energy density in the fuel).

But then there's its pedigree.  :(

How many other applications have used it? What forms is it available in? Over what time range? Under what conditions? What joining technologies can it use? What other Achilles heels does it posses? stress corrosion cracking is a classic for Aluminum alloys for example. A material you can't effectively join (IE transmit most of the loads it's carrying to another member) implies you're going to have to make the whole structure in 1 piece :o That's quite challenging.

These sorts of issues only show up when you've got something that's been used quite widely already (which implies someone's already got a workaround for them) or very thoroughly (IE expensively) tested by the programme. The further beyond the known SoA (which could be quite a bit beyond the common state of practice) the more chance there are of those "Unknown unknowns" appearing to wreck the development schedule.

The classic ways to combat these issues are clever design and carrying backup materials options for various parts of the design.

Concorde had a very clever (and subtle) wing design that improved it's low speed handling qualities. Each engines inlets were run by 13 different computers (although in this context "computer" also means hard wired analog and electromechanical controllers).

BTW A passenger carrying transatlantic aircraft needs to meed the ETOPS spec. It took a long time for aircraft mfgs and airlines to convince aviation authorities that they could do this on 2 engines and still fly  on 1 engine so such a plane might need to be 4 engines to begin with.

On the upside diagnostic instruments to look inside a running engine are much better than when the J58 nacelle was being developed, likewise our ability to model what's happening and how to adjust it.
In the 50's nuts, bolts and washers made out of zirconia that could survive 1600c were science fiction. Now you go to the mfg's website and give your card details. NASA solved the problem of how to fasten materials with wildly differing thermal expansions (in the case of RCC wildly differing expansions on each axis of the material) in the early 80's.

The challenge is to leverage all that relatively new tech to design an architecture that can fly the mission without a) Bankrupting the company during design and development b) Bankrupt the people who buy it in fuel and maintenance bills.  :(

Personally I don't like "active" systems too much. I'd optimize for the cruise condition, look very carefully at the aerodynamics in all phases of flight, avoid clever leading edge devices (which will be subject to brutal levels of heating). I'd try to minimize the number of actuators around the ramjet and inlet system and keep the drag down inside the nacelle by trying keep the airflow velocity through the ramjet  as high as possible. "Thermal choking" (by sequencing different burners inside the duct using cheapish fuel valves) not actual  choking (varying the internal geometry with various hydraulic driven ramps, cones etc).  :)

Like re-entry the thermal profile over the skin of a M5 aircraft is very "peaky." If you can move enough of those thermal peaks to cooler areas you can dump that heat. Dump it fast enough and you can use thinner structure, as it is operating at a lower temperature.

All of this is obvious to any competent design team. The devils in the details. I read NASA's history of the X-43 and part of the trouble they had was a control surface on the  Pegasus LV has been wind tunnel tested at 10deg and 15deg but not the planned 12 deg.  They did a linear interpolation between the 2 values. Nothing to worry about.

After the crash they did it with a new (fully adjustable) wind tunnel model.

Turned out there was a highly non linear spike at that control surface angular setting that the flight computer could not control.

Same vehicle, different control surface setting.

Moral. Don't just test what you fly, test it at the same settings as you're going to fly it, otherwise you may have to build another one from scratch.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: libra on 08/24/2019 09:01 am
Strathclyde maybe ? https://www.strath.ac.uk/strathseds/air-spacetransport/  8)

They seem to have a strong connection with Skylon...
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 08/24/2019 09:59 am
I believe it was a British university but I can’t remember which one.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 08/24/2019 12:24 pm
I believe it was a British university but I can’t remember which one.
The problem with betting the whole development plan on such a material is you open yourself up to development problems at every stage, any (or all) of which may actually be impossible to solve

That was why the British and French chose 2618 (often with a pure aluminum coating) as their main alloy for Concorde. It'd been around in one form or another for decades and there was substantial (although probably not vast) experience in using it. AFAIK the big mfg innovation was using large purpose built machine tools to hog out large sections of the Concorde structure to greatly reduce the number of fasteners used.

Boeing went with Titanium but AFAIK the bulk of the knowledge in how to work it was with Lockheed's APD, which they acquired building the SR71, and where it stayed.

One of the classic skunk works stories is of someone marking a sheet of titanium with a felt pen and when they came back to it the solvent in the ink had eaten through the sheet. Or of boiling all their tools to leach out one of the metals in the chrome vanadium alloy they were made out to stop it corroding the titanium.

It's little things like this that make using new materials very  high risk.
Sure it's just a lesson learned.
But how many lessons are there left to be learned?

Very new materials are likely to be in quite short supply so every miss step is likely to have a disproportionate effect on schedule, something you want to avoid on a limited (and shrinking) budget.

I wish Hermeus the best of luck in executing their plan. Their engineers are going to learn some very valuable lessons.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Barley on 08/25/2019 07:34 pm
BTW A passenger carrying transatlantic aircraft needs to meed the ETOPS spec.

Or maintain mach 1.5 on one engine.

Speed makes some things easier.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Asteroza on 08/26/2019 02:54 am
Betting the farm on the insulator materials would also be catastrophic, if say it needed something like Starlite. Of note, apparently there is some outfit that claims to have recreated Starlite after gaining access to the formula from the inventor's widow, but you know how these things rarely are what they appear on the surface...
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 08/26/2019 06:31 am
Betting the farm on the insulator materials would also be catastrophic, if say it needed something like Starlite. Of note, apparently there is some outfit that claims to have recreated Starlite after gaining access to the formula from the inventor's widow, but you know how these things rarely are what they appear on the surface...
We'll have to see what (if anything) turns up on the market...

But the same issues apply with a TPS material as a structural material.  Pedigree.

From what I've seen successful development programmes innovate only in the areas they need to deliver the result.

Despite Concorde's very demanding mission (carry 100 passengers at M2+ for hours at a time when fighters typically only went supersonic on afterburner for minutes at a time) partly because its designers had an engineer that already had a lot of flight hours powering the Vulcan bomber and a  structural material that had been around since the late 20's.

One retrospective of the Concorde development programme pointed out the skin temp was also just at the limits of a whole bunch of materials, such as solder and elastomers. That meant you could still use those materials and methods, and the hardware they were used in. Above that you either need to look at specially developed components or addition thermal protection.  Hence why Lockheed had to use fuel as the hydraulic fluid

Some materials have advanced greatly in the decades since. You can buy plastic baking trays now :o High temperature aluminum can push use temperatures to 400c with about the same density of regular (but not lithium) aluminum alloys. A good question would be wheather its thermal conductivity is the same or if it's more like steel. If it remains highly conductive it would remain relatively easy to cool. Lead free solders melt about 34c higher than lead containing ones but for the really paranoid you could have the electronics made in wire wrap with plugs wired by crimping the individual wires.

Likewise I think the operating temps inside the J58 engine are several hundred degrees below the current SoA for alloys. The problem is AFAIK no one makes large turbojets anymore. So you'd be looking at making a turbo ramjet out of a low BPR turbofan or somehow stripping the front blades off a turbo fan and either scrapping them or shortening them. However if they sit inside the main casing then that doesn't do any good as you haven't actually reduced its frontal area, which is why you'd do it.
[EDIT Digging into the J58 design a bit deeper it looks like it could be described as a very low BP turbofan  :o 20% of inlet air was bled around the core and fed to the AB. This was enough to substantially improve fuel efficiency and supply a lower temperature airflow for peripheral purposes. It was considered important enough by the mfg that it was patented. Obviously that patent is long expired. ]
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 08/31/2019 09:09 am
Digging a bit deeper into the J58 engine while the alloys operating temperatures have risen somewhat since the early 50s the joker is how much modern engines rely on blade cooling to operate.

The trouble is a subsonic engine is taking in air at quite low temperatures, which a hypersonic engine will be pretty lot once it gets through the inlet.

I think the J58 blades were uncooled but I'm not sure any modern engine just relies on the alloy alone.

It's one of those picky, finicky details that no one has to worry about under normal circumstances.

But M5+  cruise is anything but normal.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 03/11/2020 11:14 am
https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1233520733629960193
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 03/11/2020 11:18 am
Quote
Hypersonic weapons, which combine the speed of the fastest ballistic missiles with the manoeuvrability of cruise missiles, will enter the arsenals of China, Russia and the US over the next five years. Whether their arrival starts an action–reaction cycle in military spending or further weakens crisis stability may depend on whether the countries building these weapons can agree on ways to control their proliferation.

https://www.iiss.org/publications/strategic-comments/2020/hypersonic-weapons-and-strategic-stability
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: SciNews on 03/24/2020 07:52 am
A common hypersonic glide body (C-HGB) was launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility, Kauai, Hawaii, on 19 March 2020, at approximately 22:30 local time (HST) (20 March, ~08:30 UTC).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eoBD0czjxI
The flight experiment was jointly executed by the U.S. Navy and U.S. Army and was reported by the U.S. Department of Defense to have been successful: C-HGB “flew at hypersonic speed to a designated impact point”.
In January 2020, the U.S. Air Force performed a hot fire test of X-60A, “an air-launched rocket designed for hypersonic flight research”
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: russianhalo117 on 03/24/2020 08:28 am
A common hypersonic glide body (C-HGB) was launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility, Kauai, Hawaii, on 19 March 2020, at approximately 22:30 local time (HST) (20 March, ~08:30 UTC).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eoBD0czjxI
The flight experiment was jointly executed by the U.S. Navy and U.S. Army and was reported by the U.S. Department of Defense to have been successful: C-HGB “flew at hypersonic speed to a designated impact point”.
In January 2020, the U.S. Air Force performed a hot fire test of X-60A, “an air-launched rocket designed for hypersonic flight research”
C-HGB was launched on a STARS-IV from LP-42.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: SciNews on 03/25/2020 05:26 am
C-HGB was launched on a STARS-IV from LP-42.
It was not meant to imply that C-HGB and X-60A are connected, just related.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: russianhalo117 on 03/25/2020 04:58 pm
C-HGB was launched on a STARS-IV from LP-42.
It was not meant to imply that C-HGB and X-60A are connected, just related.
Never said they were. The HGB programme uses the the STARS-IV rocket for its launches.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 03/31/2020 12:08 pm
Stratolaunch Unveils Hypersonic Test Design Details

https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/aircraft-propulsion/stratolaunch-unveils-hypersonic-test-design-details
Title: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 04/08/2020 03:43 pm
Unfortunately most of this is behind a paywall:

Quote
HyperSpace claims several advantages for the superconducting electric hybrid TBCC versus a conventional turbine-based design because the turbine core is completely integrated and embedded inside the ramjet/scramjet engines with a common central flow path. The design has the theoretical capability of operating to a much higher takeover Mach number before transitioning from turbine to ram/scramjet mode.

The company estimates the turbine will run up to Mach 5-6 before transitioning to scramjet power, which will be used to operate to Mach 8-plus. “Our turbine is operable at very high Mach numbers because it is shaftless-electric and all the loads of the rotating machinery are carried in the exoskeleton of the engine structure,” Lugg says. “We are operating at rpms and loads that were previously impossible until we came along with this concept.”

The outer casing for the turbine engine also forms the inner casing of the double-walled ram/scramjet ducting. The space between the double walls is used to hold the JP7/8 subsystem for fueling and cooling as well as to provide space for the electromagnetic power systems and controls. The company says the common airflow path through the center of the powerplant eliminates the need for completely separate turbine and ramjet/scramjet engines. “Ours is all one mass flow, so we are saving volume, weight and complexity. Plus, we don’t have the issue of cocooning a hot turbine,” he adds.

https://aviationweek.com/aerospace/emerging-technologies/hyperspace-unveils-hypersonic-combined-cycle-engine-concept-tests
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: CameronD on 04/09/2020 03:30 am
Unfortunately most of this is behind a paywall:

Quote
HyperSpace claims several advantages for the superconducting electric hybrid TBCC versus a conventional turbine-based design because the turbine core is completely integrated and embedded inside the ramjet/scramjet engines with a common central flow path. The design has the theoretical capability of operating to a much higher takeover Mach number before transitioning from turbine to ram/scramjet mode.

The company estimates the turbine will run up to Mach 5-6 before transitioning to scramjet power, which will be used to operate to Mach 8-plus. “Our turbine is operable at very high Mach numbers because it is shaftless-electric and all the loads of the rotating machinery are carried in the exoskeleton of the engine structure,” Lugg says. “We are operating at rpms and loads that were previously impossible until we came along with this concept.”

The outer casing for the turbine engine also forms the inner casing of the double-walled ram/scramjet ducting. The space between the double walls is used to hold the JP7/8 subsystem for fueling and cooling as well as to provide space for the electromagnetic power systems and controls. The company says the common airflow path through the center of the powerplant eliminates the need for completely separate turbine and ramjet/scramjet engines. “Ours is all one mass flow, so we are saving volume, weight and complexity. Plus, we don’t have the issue of cocooning a hot turbine,” he adds.

https://aviationweek.com/aerospace/emerging-technologies/hyperspace-unveils-hypersonic-combined-cycle-engine-concept-tests

Sounds promising.. but like they said, it's just a concept.  It'll be interesting to see it built and working, otherwise, like so many other promising concepts, it's just vapourware.
 
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Asteroza on 04/09/2020 05:01 am
Unfortunately most of this is behind a paywall:

Quote
HyperSpace claims several advantages for the superconducting electric hybrid TBCC versus a conventional turbine-based design because the turbine core is completely integrated and embedded inside the ramjet/scramjet engines with a common central flow path. The design has the theoretical capability of operating to a much higher takeover Mach number before transitioning from turbine to ram/scramjet mode.

The company estimates the turbine will run up to Mach 5-6 before transitioning to scramjet power, which will be used to operate to Mach 8-plus. “Our turbine is operable at very high Mach numbers because it is shaftless-electric and all the loads of the rotating machinery are carried in the exoskeleton of the engine structure,” Lugg says. “We are operating at rpms and loads that were previously impossible until we came along with this concept.”

The outer casing for the turbine engine also forms the inner casing of the double-walled ram/scramjet ducting. The space between the double walls is used to hold the JP7/8 subsystem for fueling and cooling as well as to provide space for the electromagnetic power systems and controls. The company says the common airflow path through the center of the powerplant eliminates the need for completely separate turbine and ramjet/scramjet engines. “Ours is all one mass flow, so we are saving volume, weight and complexity. Plus, we don’t have the issue of cocooning a hot turbine,” he adds.

https://aviationweek.com/aerospace/emerging-technologies/hyperspace-unveils-hypersonic-combined-cycle-engine-concept-tests

Sounds promising.. but like they said, it's just a concept.  It'll be interesting to see it built and working, otherwise, like so many other promising concepts, it's just vapourware.

Ah, this seems to be a continuation of the H-MAGJET/S-MAGJET design work (circa HyperMach and Sonicblue), which explains the rim based "shaftless" technology mentions. They were originally proposing an engine that used electric rim drive compressors, rim drive generators for the turbine, and at the least a rear MHD accelerator/afterburner (and possibly an MHD inlet generator, as well as shaping inlet/duct airflows via plasma magnetics). The basic premise is decoupling the compressors from the turbine due to assorted mismatches in speed/power via electric drive, usually with direct coupling of the compressor motor rims with the turbine generator rims. They apparently discovered that the extractable electric power was much higher than expected, so they thought they should be able to redirect some power to things like nose plasma drag reduction systems and MHD accelerators, thus moving up from a "mere" supersonic bizjet powerplant to hypersonics.

engine image credit AvWeek/HyperSpace Propulsion Inc

The guys LinkedIn page also showed an inward turning inlet vehicle body which on the face of it wouldn't use the axisymmetric engine design pictured.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 04/09/2020 07:04 am
Is this another case of announcing something being at a certain stage when it has actually moved onto the next, which seems not uncommon for military related projects like this for a whole host of reasons both military and business related.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: RON_P on 04/09/2020 12:49 pm
Reminds me a little soviet project from the late 80's  named Ayaks ( or ajax)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayaks
And also a little NASA study from a decade ago
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20110002743.pdf
Title: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 04/16/2020 10:24 am
From Inside Defense pay site

Quote
Navy eyed NASA's Wallops Island launch facility for hypersonic test over Atlantic
The Navy last month considered launching a long-range experimental hypersonic flight test over the Atlantic Ocean toward target areas in the open sea more than 2,000 miles from Virginia, including points northeast of the South American coast and another roughly midway between the U.S. eastern seaboard and Western Sahara

https://defensenewsstand.com/newsstand-login?n=208745&destination=node/208745
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 04/20/2020 05:37 am
Reminds me a little soviet project from the late 80's  named Ayaks ( or ajax)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayaks
And also a little NASA study from a decade ago
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20110002743.pdf
Welcome to the site.

These are very bold concepts indeed.

and by that I mean TRL1 level or 2 at best.

A network of high voltage eletrodes at the front of the vehicle that can survive flow up to M7 is shall we say "challenging" to begin with.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 04/21/2020 12:59 pm
Quote
WASHINGTON: DoD and Norway’s Defense Ministry today announced an umbrella agreement for partnering on development of ramjet propulsion technologies, which the US Navy and Army have been eying to power future hypersonic missiles. The agreement is the first to be publicly revealed under DoD’s new Allied Prototyping Initiative (API), led by Mike Griffin’s office for research and engineering.

https://breakingdefense.com/2020/04/dod-norway-partner-on-ramjets-for-navy-hypersonic-missiles/
Title: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 04/23/2020 10:40 am
Further to the above news article:

https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2020/04/21/dod_is_running_the_wrong_way_in_the_hypersonics_race_115218.html

Unrelated article:

https://www.defensenews.com/news/coronavirus/2020/04/22/hypersonic-weapons-arent-fast-enough-to-avoid-coronavirus/
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: russianhalo117 on 04/28/2020 08:46 pm
Hypersonic Vehicle Design shown in this video. Being manufactured in Camden:
https://youtu.be/ETLddJ9nVdw
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 04/29/2020 10:40 am
USAF Kicks Off Early Study For Hypersonic Cruise Missile

https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/missile-defense-weapons/usaf-kicks-early-study-hypersonic-cruise-missile
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 04/29/2020 04:33 pm
Hypersonic Vehicle Design shown in this video. Being manufactured in Camden:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETLddJ9nVdw
Looked a bit generic to me.  Bit like a cruise missile but with an inlet underslung.

Could be anything really.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: russianhalo117 on 04/29/2020 05:06 pm
Hypersonic Vehicle Design shown in this video. Being manufactured in Camden:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETLddJ9nVdw
Looked a bit generic to me.  Bit like a cruise missile but with an inlet underslung.

Could be anything really.
All I know from my personal contacts is that several hypersonic flight and experimental products are being manufactured in Camden including the one shown in the promotional video. Programme names are shown on products when available for public release. AFA's Air Force Magazine previously showed one that matched the one in the video.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 05/04/2020 11:06 am
MBDA Patent Offers New Glimpse Into Europe’s Hypersonic Weapon Plans

https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/missile-defense-weapons/mbda-patent-offers-new-glimpse-europes-hypersonic-weapon
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: SciNews on 05/21/2020 12:51 pm
ZDNet: "Japan investigates potential leak of prototype missile data in Mitsubishi hack"
https://www.zdnet.com/article/japan-investigates-potential-leak-of-prototype-missile-design-in-mitsubishi-hack/
"The missile, a speed glider known as HGV, was documented in files Mitsubishi and other manufacturers held as part of a bidding process."
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 06/17/2020 03:24 pm
International Hypersonic Strike Weapons Projects Accelerate

https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/missile-defense-weapons/international-hypersonic-strike-weapons-projects-accelerate
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 07/22/2020 10:03 am
AEROJET ROCKETDYNE ACHIEVES ANOTHER MILESTONE ON DARPA OPFIRES PROGRAM

HUNTSVILLE, Ala., July 21, 2020 – Aerojet Rocketdyne has successfully completed a second series of propulsion system tests in support of the Operational Fires (OpFires) program, a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) effort to develop a ground-launched hypersonic missile for tactical use.
“We’re pleased to be a part of developing this vital defense technology, applying our decades of experience in hypersonic and missile defense technologies,” said Eileen Drake, Aerojet Rocketdyne CEO and president.
During the propulsion tests, called cold gas testing, the test articles operated successfully with all components providing critical data to the operation of the OpFires propulsion system. The test series followed last year’s successful subscale propulsion test firings.
DARPA’s OpFires program aims to develop a two-stage missile capable of engaging high-value, time-sensitive targets from standoff range in contested environments. The effort to date has advanced the technology for an upper stage featuring a tunable propulsion system, according to DARPA.
Aerojet Rocketdyne has been supporting the program through a Phase 1 contract to design propulsion concepts and technologies for OpFires. The contract continued with an $8.8 million option for Phase 2 of the program, which is expected to culminate in late 2020 following multiple test firings.
Aerojet Rocketdyne has long been a leader in hypersonic propulsion technology, with a breadth of capabilities to include scramjets, solid rocket motor boosters, warheads and missile defense technologies.
About Aerojet Rocketdyne:
Aerojet ocketdyne, a subsidiary of Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:AJRD), is a world-recognized aerospace and defense leader that provides propulsion systems and energetics to the space, missile defense and strategic systems, and tactical systems areas, in support of domestic and international customers. For more information, visit www.Rocket.com and www.AerojetRocketdyne.com. Follow Aerojet Rocketdyne and CEO Eileen Drake on Twitter at @AerojetRdyne and @DrakeEileen.

https://www.rocket.com/article/aerojet-rocketdyne-achieves-another-milestone-darpa-opfires-program
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 07/29/2020 04:32 pm
New free NASA book about the X-34.

https://www.nasa.gov/connect/ebooks/promise_denied.html
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: leovinus on 07/29/2020 05:37 pm
New free NASA book about the X-34.

https://www.nasa.gov/connect/ebooks/promise_denied.html

There is a thread (https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=5806.msg2112210#msg2112210) for that :)
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 07/29/2020 06:45 pm
New free NASA book about the X-34.

https://www.nasa.gov/connect/ebooks/promise_denied.html

There is a thread (https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=5806.msg2112210#msg2112210) for that :)
I couldn’t find it in the search. Sorry.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Twark_Main on 08/05/2020 09:03 pm
Can anyone point to some good sources for learning more about hypersonic nose cone design? Aerospikes, nose cone shape, drag, peak heating, etc. I asked the same question in this post (https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=51284.msg2115956#msg2115956), but unfortunately I got no helpful replies. :(

I understand a lot of it's classified (for obvious reasons), but there's got to be some better information out there than just reading Wikipedia...
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: leovinus on 08/05/2020 09:24 pm
Can anyone point to some good sources for learning more about hypersonic nose cone design? Aerospikes, nose cone shape, drag, peak heating, etc. I asked the same question in this post (https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?action=post;quote=2115956;topic=51284.220;last_msg=2116044), but unfortunately I got no helpful replies. :(

I understand a lot of it's classified (for obvious reasons), but there's got to be some better information out there than just reading Wikipedia...

Have you tried NTRS (https://ntrs.nasa.gov/?N=0&Ntk=All&Ntt=hypersonic%20nose%20cone&Ntx=mode%20matchallpartial)?
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Twark_Main on 08/06/2020 01:06 am
Can anyone point to some good sources for learning more about hypersonic nose cone design? Aerospikes, nose cone shape, drag, peak heating, etc. I asked the same question in this post (https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?action=post;quote=2115956;topic=51284.220;last_msg=2116044), but unfortunately I got no helpful replies. :(

I understand a lot of it's classified (for obvious reasons), but there's got to be some better information out there than just reading Wikipedia...

Have you tried NTRS (https://ntrs.nasa.gov/?N=0&Ntk=All&Ntt=hypersonic%20nose%20cone&Ntx=mode%20matchallpartial)?

I'm well aware of NTRS, but it contains hundreds of thousands of documents (just that search returns over 3,000). I was hoping for something a little more digestible. Perhaps a good textbook, or even just a couple good summary papers.

Maybe Robotbeat can go beyond "liking" posts, and actually chime in with some pointers. :D
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Robotbeat on 08/06/2020 03:24 am
NTRS has a search engine. ;)
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 08/06/2020 05:40 am

I understand a lot of it's classified (for obvious reasons), but there's got to be some better information out there than just reading Wikipedia...
No, just old

The key papers by Eggers on blunt bodies (a classic demonstration of what happens when you take a concept and flip it upside down) are from that time. Whitcombe came up with the concept of the "Asymmetric wing" aircraft. Andersen (anderson?) has done several books on hypersonic flow. 

There's a book from that time which has an equation that breaks out the various heat flow parts and lets you see what makes an ablative wall rather than a heat sink or a radiative cooled wall. Can't recall the title.   :(

A key point of older books and papers is the limited computer power of the time strongly  encouraged analytical (IE as an equation you could evaluate with one set of values to get an answer) rather than the "Let's build a finite element model and simulate it" approach modern engineers tend to have (although those models are only as good as the accuracy of the parameter values at the known operating conditions, which may be considerably  less accurate that you might expect).

Also the papers associated with Jupiter probe entry are in this range as well. To put those in perspective Apollo's heat shield was designed for about 100w/cm^2. Jupiter was more like 50 000W/cm^2
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Robotbeat on 08/06/2020 01:29 pm
The analytical approach is better if you can do it as it’s a more succinct and portable description of the problem requiring just a few lines of math instead of pages and pages of source code (which are harder to acquire and/or unavailable). Even if you have the ability to do a numerical solution, analytical solutions are a good check. Analytical solutions usually require a high degree of symmetry, which should be fine here as you’re not trying to achieve lift or whatever.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Twark_Main on 08/06/2020 05:15 pm
NTRS has a search engine. ;)

Ok, so my suspicion is confirmed. Actually helping other humans is some sort of violation of SkepticBot (https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=51284.msg2115964#msg2115964)'s programming. ::)


I understand a lot of it's classified (for obvious reasons), but there's got to be some better information out there than just reading Wikipedia...
No, just old

The key papers by Eggers on blunt bodies (a classic demonstration of what happens when you take a concept and flip it upside down) are from that time. Whitcombe came up with the concept of the "Asymmetric wing" aircraft. Andersen (anderson?) has done several books on hypersonic flow. 

There's a book from that time which has an equation that breaks out the various heat flow parts and lets you see what makes an ablative wall rather than a heat sink or a radiative cooled wall. Can't recall the title.   :(

A key point of older books and papers is the limited computer power of the time strongly  encouraged analytical (IE as an equation you could evaluate with one set of values to get an answer) rather than the "Let's build a finite element model and simulate it" approach modern engineers tend to have (although those models are only as good as the accuracy of the parameter values at the known operating conditions, which may be considerably  less accurate that you might expect).

Also the papers associated with Jupiter probe entry are in this range as well. To put those in perspective Apollo's heat shield was designed for about 100w/cm^2. Jupiter was more like 50 000W/cm^2

Thanks for the pointers, I'll check those out.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 08/06/2020 06:20 pm
The analytical approach is better if you can do it as it’s a more succinct and portable description of the problem requiring just a few lines of math instead of pages and pages of source code (which are harder to acquire and/or unavailable). Even if you have the ability to do a numerical solution, analytical solutions are a good check. Analytical solutions usually require a high degree of symmetry, which should be fine here as you’re not trying to achieve lift or whatever.
Agreed.  But it's tough

That said IMHO analytical solutions give a deeper understanding of the problem than the point solutions from running endless CFD.  :(
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: leovinus on 08/06/2020 06:41 pm
NTRS has a search engine. ;)

Ok, so my suspicion is confirmed. Actually helping other humans is some sort of violation of SkepticBot (https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=51284.msg2115964#msg2115964)'s programming. ::)


I understand a lot of it's classified (for obvious reasons), but there's got to be some better information out there than just reading Wikipedia...
No, just old

The key papers by Eggers on blunt bodies (a classic demonstration of what happens when you take a concept and flip it upside down) are from that time. Whitcombe came up with the concept of the "Asymmetric wing" aircraft. Andersen (anderson?) has done several books on hypersonic flow. 

There's a book from that time which has an equation that breaks out the various heat flow parts and lets you see what makes an ablative wall rather than a heat sink or a radiative cooled wall. Can't recall the title.   :(

A key point of older books and papers is the limited computer power of the time strongly  encouraged analytical (IE as an equation you could evaluate with one set of values to get an answer) rather than the "Let's build a finite element model and simulate it" approach modern engineers tend to have (although those models are only as good as the accuracy of the parameter values at the known operating conditions, which may be considerably  less accurate that you might expect).

Also the papers associated with Jupiter probe entry are in this range as well. To put those in perspective Apollo's heat shield was designed for about 100w/cm^2. Jupiter was more like 50 000W/cm^2

Thanks for the pointers, I'll check those out.

While I was having my first coffee in the morning, I found these based on author names, CFD vs analytics.
I suspect there are some nuggets in here but not entirely sure which ones you are looking for ;)
Only recent nose cones articles?
Personally, I could use a recent CFD, GPU, Navier Stokes 101 on hypersonics. Suggestions welcome!

Anderson
https://www.amazon.com/Hypersonic-High-Temperature-Dynamics-Aiaa-Education-dp-1624105149/dp/1624105149/ref=dp_ob_title_bk

Eggers
https://archive.org/details/aircraftconfigur00ames
https://archive.org/details/nasa_techdoc_19670030792
https://archive.org/details/DTIC_ADA441127

Nose cones articles
https://www.academia.edu/43726533/Design_and_CFD_Analysis_of_Hypersonic_Nose_Cone
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0094576520301375
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/320213955_Hypersonic_flow_past_nose_cones_of_different_geometries_a_comparative_study

SpaceX CFD
https://www.nextplatform.com/2015/03/27/rockets-shake-and-rattle-so-spacex-rolls-homegrown-cfd/
https://fetchcfd.com/view-project/809-CFD-Simulation-of-SpaceX-Dragon

VirginiaTech
http://www.dept.aoe.vt.edu/~mason/Mason_f/ConfigAeroHypersonics.pdf

PS: Well, the NTRS link I posted earlier >was< a query but it has dozens of hits :)
Title: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 08/06/2020 07:01 pm
Quote
The U.S. Army has released new video footage of a hypersonic missile test it carried out in cooperation with the U.S. Navy earlier this year, including clips of it in flight and impacting the designated target area. That launch, dubbed Flight Experiment 2, was in support of the development of a common hypersonic boost-glide vehicle that is set to eventually go on top of ground and submarine-launched missiles.

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/35369/army-shows-first-ever-footage-of-new-hypersonic-missile-in-flight-and-impacting

[MEDIA=twitter]1290723940529246214[/MEDIA]
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Twark_Main on 08/06/2020 10:11 pm
[snip]

While I was having my first coffee in the morning, I found these based on author names, CFD vs analytics. ...

Thanks, I know what my reading for the weekend is! :D

I regret that I have but one "like" to give.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 08/07/2020 11:08 am
Hypersonic Air Force One.

https://aerospaceamerica.aiaa.org/a-hypersonic-air-force-one-the-u-s-air-force-wants-to-have-a-look/
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 08/07/2020 01:33 pm
Hypersonic Air Force One.

https://aerospaceamerica.aiaa.org/a-hypersonic-air-force-one-the-u-s-air-force-wants-to-have-a-look/
A bit more detail is provided by one of their suppliers .PBS (https://www.pbsaerospace.com/news-events/news/ready-to-fly-mach5)

PBS is based in the Czech Republic and build small turbojets, aircraft APU's and various parts for small high speed turbo machinery.  Spec for the turbojets they supplied is here (https://www.pbsaerospace.com/our-products/tj-100-turbojet-engine)

TBF it's T/W ratio is around 6.9, quite a bit better than the J58's that powered the SR71. OTOH it's less than 300lb of thrust, and there is no detail on exactly what was being tested, or how.  :(

Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 08/07/2020 02:28 pm
Hypersonic Air Force One.

https://aerospaceamerica.aiaa.org/a-hypersonic-air-force-one-the-u-s-air-force-wants-to-have-a-look/
A bit more detail is provided by one of their suppliers .PBS (https://www.pbsaerospace.com/news-events/news/ready-to-fly-mach5)

PBS is based in the Czech Republic and build small turbojets, aircraft APU's and various parts for small high speed turbo machinery.  Spec for the turbojets they supplied is here (https://www.pbsaerospace.com/our-products/tj-100-turbojet-engine)

TBF it's T/W ratio is around 6.9, quite a bit better than the J58's that powered the SR71. OTOH it's less than 300lb of thrust, and there is no detail on exactly what was being tested, or how.  :(
People question the market for supersonic transport even in the corporate sector. I’d think that’s even more the case for hypersonic flight.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Robotbeat on 08/07/2020 02:32 pm
I think there's a good case for a hypersonic Air Force One.


....IF it's safe enough.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 08/07/2020 04:03 pm
I think there's a good case for a hypersonic Air Force One.


....IF it's safe enough.
If that’s the case then the Air Force can buy the president his own Starship for point to point travel.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: libra on 08/08/2020 06:19 am
Just for the fun of it, I'm doing some research on the web about "supersonic refueling". While the concept is completely bonkers, I found a lot of stuff (!) unsurprisingly from the 1950-1960's.
So far I have some bits about
- Lockheed CL-400 refueled by another Suntan
- Lockheed CL-400 refueled by a B-58 with a modified pod
- Lockheed having a contract for a KC-X supersonic tanker in 1956
- Repeated atempts by Clarence Johnson to try supersonic refueling between A-7 (1959) A-12 (1966) and NASA YF-12s (!!) 1970's
- XB-70 as a supersonic tanker
- Boeing 2707 SST as a tanker (either fast transits and subsonic refuelings, or supersonic refueling)
And finally...
- Lockheed early studies of supersonic refueling between A-7, wing tip to wing tip
- transfered to Aerospaceplane at Mach 6 (HIRES)
- to be tested by a couple of X-15

All this between 1955 and 1975.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 08/09/2020 08:38 am
- Repeated atempts by Clarence Johnson to try supersonic refueling between A-7 (1959) A-12 (1966) and NASA YF-12s (!!) 1970's
That's the one that astonishes me.

Johnson cancelled the Tagboard programme when the last try at separating the drone from the M21 caused it to crash killing one of the crew. Separation disrupted the airflow so much it became uncontrollable and ultimately unrecoverable.

Supersonic refueling would involve four such events as the hose leaves the flow field around the tanker, enters that around the vehicle being fueled. Then reverse it as it uncouples.

I can only presume he expected the scale of the disturbance to be so small the flow would not be badly disrupted. The upside to doing this is that you don't have to restart the after burners, which means you don't risk one of them not starting and the pilot being slammed around by the massive, uneven thrust increase.

The joker in the pack is that now you need a supersonic (or better) tanker to do so. AFAIK only the B58 and the B1a were of the size and had the M1+ performance to do this.  :(
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: RanulfC on 08/11/2020 09:52 pm
It should be noted that "attempts" means tried figuring out if it could work, not that they really tried it at all. Having said that, it appears they DID try to see if it was at least feasible in general with a pair of A-12s. (See page 141/158 here: file:///C:/Users/1170922146C/Downloads/suhler2009.pdf)

The lead aircraft shock-wave made the trailing aircraft unable to maintain position so it was deemed to be not feasible as a method. Note they had abandoned the idea of flying fully separate and the trialing aircraft was trying to maintain formation IN the leading aircraft's wake. I suspect the engine exhaust cone didn't help as the trailing aircraft would be trying to fly between the engine exhaust cone and the edge of the mach cone.

Randy
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 08/12/2020 05:43 am
It should be noted that "attempts" means tried figuring out if it could work, not that they really tried it at all. Having said that, it appears they DID try to see if it was at least feasible in general with a pair of A-12s. (See page 141/158 here: file:///C:/Users/1170922146C/Downloads/suhler2009.pdf)

The lead aircraft shock-wave made the trailing aircraft unable to maintain position so it was deemed to be not feasible as a method. Note they had abandoned the idea of flying fully separate and the trialing aircraft was trying to maintain formation IN the leading aircraft's wake. I suspect the engine exhaust cone didn't help as the trailing aircraft would be trying to fly between the engine exhaust cone and the edge of the mach cone.

Randy
This does not seem safer than risking that one of the afterburners does not start and there is a massive thrust imbalance.

How would this have worked given the A12 payload was about 5000lb of gear? Load one up to full capacity with a KC135 then accelerate to refueling speed, then pump most of it into the next one?

I'm just not seeing any real benefit unless you have a M3 KC135 equivalent tanker. That's basically  XB70 sized.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: edzieba on 08/12/2020 11:13 am
It should be noted that "attempts" means tried figuring out if it could work, not that they really tried it at all. Having said that, it appears they DID try to see if it was at least feasible in general with a pair of A-12s. (See page 141/158 here: file:///C:/Users/1170922146C/Downloads/suhler2009.pdf)

The lead aircraft shock-wave made the trailing aircraft unable to maintain position so it was deemed to be not feasible as a method. Note they had abandoned the idea of flying fully separate and the trialing aircraft was trying to maintain formation IN the leading aircraft's wake. I suspect the engine exhaust cone didn't help as the trailing aircraft would be trying to fly between the engine exhaust cone and the edge of the mach cone.

Randy
This does not seem safer than risking that one of the afterburners does not start and there is a massive thrust imbalance.

How would this have worked given the A12 payload was about 5000lb of gear? Load one up to full capacity with a KC135 then accelerate to refueling speed, then pump most of it into the next one?

I'm just not seeing any real benefit unless you have a M3 KC135 equivalent tanker. That's basically  XB70 sized.
It would be a valuable one-off capability for That One Mission Where You Really Need Range, e.g. Black Buck's (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Black_Buck) buddy-buddy-buddy-buddy refueling sequence. If propellant transfer were a capability of all A12/SR71 craft, then the available fleet and bases could potentially sustain a single craft around the world in a single flight if needed (limited by pilot and airframe endurance rather than fuel capacity). That is, of course, a lot of ifs.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: RanulfC on 08/12/2020 02:04 pm
It should be noted that "attempts" means tried figuring out if it could work, not that they really tried it at all. Having said that, it appears they DID try to see if it was at least feasible in general with a pair of A-12s. (See page 141/158 here: file:///C:/Users/1170922146C/Downloads/suhler2009.pdf)

The lead aircraft shock-wave made the trailing aircraft unable to maintain position so it was deemed to be not feasible as a method. Note they had abandoned the idea of flying fully separate and the trialing aircraft was trying to maintain formation IN the leading aircraft's wake. I suspect the engine exhaust cone didn't help as the trailing aircraft would be trying to fly between the engine exhaust cone and the edge of the mach cone.

Randy
This does not seem safer than risking that one of the afterburners does not start and there is a massive thrust imbalance.

How would this have worked given the A12 payload was about 5000lb of gear? Load one up to full capacity with a KC135 then accelerate to refueling speed, then pump most of it into the next one?

I'm just not seeing any real benefit unless you have a M3 KC135 equivalent tanker. That's basically  XB70 sized.

It would be a valuable one-off capability for That One Mission Where You Really Need Range, e.g. Black Buck's (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Black_Buck) buddy-buddy-buddy-buddy refueling sequence. If propellant transfer were a capability of all A12/SR71 craft, then the available fleet and bases could potentially sustain a single craft around the world in a single flight if needed (limited by pilot and airframe endurance rather than fuel capacity). That is, of course, a lot of ifs.

In this case it was a pretty desperate attempt to increase the range since it had been somewhat compromised due to some of the operational and RCS requirements. They manged to squeeze more range as they went from A12 to SR71 but you still couldn't cross the entire USSR in one flight which would be nice to have.

Mostly I suspect it was a case of just wanting to know since the concept had kept coming up as a plausible technique that kept getting dropped for mostly non-technical reasons. Ended up it wasn't technically as plausible as they'd thought it was and likely far more trouble than it would be worth.

Randy
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: intelati on 08/12/2020 05:03 pm
It should be noted that "attempts" means tried figuring out if it could work, not that they really tried it at all. Having said that, it appears they DID try to see if it was at least feasible in general with a pair of A-12s. (See page 141/158 here: file:///C:/Users/1170922146C/Downloads/suhler2009.pdf)

Randy

You can attach a file on the forum. But we can't use the file as linked
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: RanulfC on 08/13/2020 02:18 pm
It should be noted that "attempts" means tried figuring out if it could work, not that they really tried it at all. Having said that, it appears they DID try to see if it was at least feasible in general with a pair of A-12s. (See page 141/158 here: file:///C:/Users/1170922146C/Downloads/suhler2009.pdf)

Randy

You can attach a file on the forum. But we can't use the file as linked

I'd not noted it was a download file and now that's gone too so it may have been a time-limited access thing. It was the AIAA copy of the "Paper" that became the book "From Rainbow to GUSTO" on the development of stealth and the SR-71.

Randy
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 08/14/2020 06:13 am
In this case it was a pretty desperate attempt to increase the range since it had been somewhat compromised due to some of the operational and RCS requirements. They manged to squeeze more range as they went from A12 to SR71 but you still couldn't cross the entire USSR in one flight which would be nice to have.

Mostly I suspect it was a case of just wanting to know since the concept had kept coming up as a plausible technique that kept getting dropped for mostly non-technical reasons. Ended up it wasn't technically as plausible as they'd thought it was and likely far more trouble than it would be worth.

Randy
I did not know this. I had assumed that because the U2 had flown across the USSR it was part of the base line requirements for A12 (or its competitors).  Going back the way you came in sounded a very risky plan if you weren't supposed to be there in the first place.  :(

There seems to be an impression the A12/SR71 never flew over the USSR because it was believed it could be shot down there, not because it didn't have the range to do so.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: RanulfC on 08/14/2020 01:51 pm
In this case it was a pretty desperate attempt to increase the range since it had been somewhat compromised due to some of the operational and RCS requirements. They manged to squeeze more range as they went from A12 to SR71 but you still couldn't cross the entire USSR in one flight which would be nice to have.

Mostly I suspect it was a case of just wanting to know since the concept had kept coming up as a plausible technique that kept getting dropped for mostly non-technical reasons. Ended up it wasn't technically as plausible as they'd thought it was and likely far more trouble than it would be worth.

Randy
I did not know this. I had assumed that because the U2 had flown across the USSR it was part of the base line requirements for A12 (or its competitors).  Going back the way you came in sounded a very risky plan if you weren't supposed to be there in the first place.  :(

There seems to be an impression the A12/SR71 never flew over the USSR because it was believed it could be shot down there, not because it didn't have the range to do so.

Sorry I left out some context, sorry :) I recommend reading the book itself as it goes into more detail but essentially it was pretty clear the Soviets were able to detect and track the U2 and the President, (Eisenhower) demanded the U2 follow-on find some way to avoid detection. Lockheed's initial designs all had pretty decent speed (Mach 3+) and altitude, (90Kft) but were HIGHLY detectable by radar. When they went to add 'stealth' modification the range fell below that to cross the USSR in one go BUT that was because the initial plans were based on ONLY launching from the Continental US with no overseas landing or support. Hence you 'range' problem :)

It seems the genesis was essentially not that the plane could get shot down, (it was a give that with enough provocation the Soviets would develop a way to do so eventually) but that the mere fact that over-flights were being done at all would increase tensions and spur the development of counter-measures. (Eisenhower himself said the fastest way to get him to ask Congress for a declaration of war was to find a Soviet aircraft flying over the US, and the USSR was constantly complaining about overflight through diplomatic channels)

The idea was to make the plan so stealthy and so fast that it could over-fly the USSR without the Soviets even knowing it was there at all. They never reached that point and since satellites were coming along they instead opted to suspend the over-flights. On the other hand this meant that the opposition didn't have enough incentive to develop an actually effective way to shoot such flights that DID occur down.

Randy
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: libra on 08/14/2020 05:40 pm
I have the document if anybody is interested (and if that don't break any rules on that forum).
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: libra on 08/14/2020 05:47 pm
I don't think the SR.71 ever had the range for any significant crossing of the Soviet Union. No way to achieve Power ill-fated Peshawar to Bodo overflight.

What is all too evident and clear from the litterature is that A-12 / SR-71 flights never happened because of the Gary Power quagmire.

Einsenhower had been badly burned (by the CIA liars and then by the Soviet Union), JFK and LBJ never were stupid enough to make the same crippling mistake.

What they DID, however, was border penetration flights: enter and exit (hit and run) Soviet air space to drive the air defense crazy and prove the MiG-25s they were not up the task to kill them.

Also the Soviet union had the SA-5 Galosh and, according to the ISINGLASS / RHEINBERRY documents "anything below Mach 9 would be vulnerable right from 1970."

Also note that ISINGLASS was essentially Convair FISH / KINGFISH reborn, and its top speed was Mach 4.5, airbreathing with ramjets.
Despite Schriever heavy insistance, that bird was rejected.

RHEINBERRY would have flown at Mach 22 thanks to a XLR-129 (SSME ancestor) rocket engine. More akin to suborbital than hypersonic flight: a manned IRBM rather than a manned aircraft !

As for China... trickier. They could have flown SR-71 as they did over NOK and NVA since all three countries had SA-2 "only".

Then again, NVA and NOK come close from holing SR-71s and A-12s with SA-2s, so... maybe the Chinese could improve their SA-2s just enough to shoot down a SR-71. We will enver know for sure.

It seems that China Lop-Nur nuclear test range was definitively out of SR-71 range, whatever side they tried (Taiwan, Thailand, India, Pakistan... no way).

Instead they created
- the ultra-fast drone (D-21B, failed four times)
- the first, ever, true stealth vehicle (AQM-91 drone, never tried, Nixon went to China just before it become operational)
And...
- the drone that masqueraded as a bird-of-prey: AQUILINE (CIA dope was probably pretty good, those days).
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Seamurda on 08/14/2020 10:43 pm
The SR71 successfully evaded a SA-5 missile above Libya. Hell A6 Intruders managed to avoid SA-2 missiles at medium altitude in Vietnam.

In the Libya case they managed to avoid a mission kill by increasing speed to an unofficial record of Mach 3.5. Otherwise they would have had to make a defensive turn earlier which would have taken them off course.

Basic method to avoid the missile is to wait for it to establish a leading track, then turn to force it to pull lead in the other direction (repeat if time allows). This bleeds energy and range from the missile. Finally as the missile approaches a rapid turn away should result in it having insufficient energy to follow.

In the thin air at 80,00ft a missile is not very manoeuvrable and it doesn't have continuously running engines to replace lost energy.

That they didn't overfly was down to not wanting to take the political risk of being shot down rather than thinking that it was an imminent threat if they did.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 08/15/2020 07:00 am
RFI:  Expendable Hypersonic Multi-Mission Air-Breathing Demonstrator (Mayhem) Program

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is interested in the design, fabrication, integration, and necessary research needed to enable a larger-scale expendable air-breathing hypersonic multi-mission flight demonstrator. The Mayhem System Demonstrator (MSD) will need to be capable of carrying larger payloads over distances further than current hypersonic capabilities allow. The payload bay will be modular and capable of carrying/delivering at least three distinct payloads in order to execute multiple Government-defined mission sets. AFRL has previously accomplished similar research under multiple efforts including the Enhanced Operational Scramjet Technology effort (Broad Area Announcement BAA-12-07-PKP), Enabling Technologies for High-speed Operable Systems (BAA-FA8650-17-S-2002), High Speed Strike Weapon Program, and Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept Program.

To increase industry involvement and benefit from focused tasking, AFRL is considering the use of two multiple-award IDIQs to accomplish this effort. The two Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contracts would be split into groups, each encompassing one propulsion system development and vehicle development and integration. Each IDIQ contract group would share a single-cost ceiling with a multiple-award IDIQ contract scoped to each of the two focus areas: 1) larger scale propulsion development and flight-weight ground test and 2) air vehicle design and scramjet integration. Follow-on awards would include fabrication, flight test, and vehicle modification for integration of various payloads. Multiple-award IDIQ contracts would be planned under one solicitation.

Conceptually, two different air vehicle and two different propulsion contractors could be awarded each one of the multiple-award IDIQ contracts. Alternatively, a single contractor could be awarded both separate focus area contracts. Due to the nature of the research and focus areas, information sharing and resource sharing would be essential. As such, formation and agreement to an Associate Contractor Agreement (ACA) or a Consortium Agreement between the vehicle and propulsion contractors would be necessary. A similar agreement amongst all contractors is being considered.

Competition for future task order requirements after initial award is anticipated between the IDIQ contracts. The AFRL Program Manager may choose to order tasks from one of the two IDIQ contract groups based on the available funding and evidential progress towards achieving objectives.

https://beta.sam.gov/opp/f89c2296b38944018328cdc60ead6ce7/view?keywords=hypersonic&sort=-modifiedDate&index=&is_active=true&page=1
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 08/19/2020 01:46 pm
Quote
The U.S. Air Force agency that manages the service’s nuclear arsenal has started researching enabling technology for an intercontinental-range, hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV), according to a document that was published briefly in error on a public website.

Although the document shows a U.S. nuclear weapons agency is researching HGV technology, senior Pentagon officials say there has been no change to a policy that “strictly” limits the emerging class of hypersonic gliders and cruise missiles to non-nuclear warheads.


https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/missile-defense-weapons/usaf-errantly-reveals-research-icbm-range-hypersonic-glide
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 08/19/2020 01:46 pm
Quote
The U.S. Air Force agency that manages the service’s nuclear arsenal has started researching enabling technology for an intercontinental-range, hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV), according to a document that was published briefly in error on a public website.

Although the document shows a U.S. nuclear weapons agency is researching HGV technology, senior Pentagon officials say there has been no change to a policy that “strictly” limits the emerging class of hypersonic gliders and cruise missiles to non-nuclear warheads.


https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/missile-defense-weapons/usaf-errantly-reveals-research-icbm-range-hypersonic-glide
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 08/21/2020 01:56 pm
Quote
The Air Force is seeking a new, air-breathing hypersonic system, nicknamed “Mayhem,” that would be larger than the AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon, and carry multiple payloads, perhaps performing an intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance mission in addition to attack.

USAF intends to solicit concepts for a new hypersonic system exclusively from hypersonics-knowledgeable contractors, namely Boeing, Lockheed Martin’s Skunkworks, and Raytheon, with contracts to be awarded in the first quarter of fiscal 2021, according to an Aug. 5 notice. Any companies that feel they are capable of doing the work and that they’ve been unfairly excluded need to contact the Air Force Research Laboratory within two weeks of the solicitation.

https://www.airforcemag.com/mayhem-will-be-larger-multi-role-air-breathing-hypersonic-system-for-usaf/
Title: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 08/22/2020 08:19 am
Mayhem is a expendable testbed program designed at developing engines for things like the SR-72.

Quote
Aviation Week was first to confirm a direct link between Mayhem and this "multi-cycle" engine work for a story it published on Aug. 20, 2020. The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) had first publicly announced the project in a contracting announcement calling for information about a potential "Expendable Hypersonic Multi-Mission Air-Breathing Demonstrator" design on Aug. 12. The Air Force expects the Mayhem demonstrator to be larger than the AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon(ARRW) hypersonic missile and be able to carry at least three separate payloads per flight.

Quote
The Air Force is already performing advanced ramjet and scramjet work, previously revealing that it achieved what it said was record-breaking performance from a scramjet during ground tests last year. Earlier this month, the service handed what was effectively a $1.5 million research and development grant to the Hermeus Corporation, which has been actively testing its own proprietary combined cycle jet engine design. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has also initiated its own multi-cycle Advanced Full Range Engine (AFRE) program.

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/35921/air-forces-mayhem-project-tied-to-hyperonic-engines-for-planes-such-as-the-sr-72
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 08/28/2020 04:20 pm
Quote
The United States has actively pursued the development of hypersonic weapons—maneuvering weapons that fly at speeds of at least Mach 5—as a part of its conventional prompt global strike program since the early 2000s. In recent years, the United States has focused such efforts on developing hypersonic glide vehicles, which are launched from a rocket before gliding to a target, and hypersonic cruise missiles, which are powered by high-speed, air-breathing engines during flight. As Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and former Commander of U.S. Strategic Command General John Hyten has stated, these weapons could enable “responsive, long-range, strike options against distant, defended, and/or time-critical threats [such as road-mobile missiles] when other forces are unavailable, denied access, or not preferred.” Critics, on the other hand, contend that hypersonic weapons lack defined mission requirements, contribute little to U.S. military capability, and are unnecessary for deterrence.

https://news.usni.org/2020/08/28/report-on-u-s-hypersonic-weapon-development-2?fbclid=IwAR0dEII0jTCFJ6qTt_JmXz_kKt-s4ZHzPB0WK60eTaTOBCpaAaef5nneD5g
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 10/09/2020 04:23 pm
Lockheed Martin releases first image of new hypersonic long-range missile system

Quote
Lockheed Martin Corp., Pentagon’s No.1 weapons supplier, posted the first public computer-generated graphics of Army’s Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW).

https://defence-blog.com/news/army/lockheed-martin-releases-first-image-of-new-hypersonic-long-range-missile-system.html
Title: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 10/12/2020 04:09 pm
Quote
Lockheed Martin announced Oct. 9, 2020, the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire a portion of Integration Innovation Inc. (i3), a software and systems engineering company based in Huntsville, Ala.

The portfolio alignment between i3 and Lockheed Martin provides the opportunity to design and deliver hypersonic-specific technology solutions that benefit the warfighter.

https://www.aerotechnews.com/blog/2020/10/09/lockheed-martin-to-acquire-i3-hypersonics-portfolio/
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 10/13/2020 09:30 pm
Quote
WASHINGTON — U.S. Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy reported in his speech at the Association of the U.S. Army conference that the Pentagon’s hypersonic missile hit within 6 inches of its target.

“Hypersonic missiles are hitting their targets with a variance of only a mere 6 inches,” he said during his speech at the virtual opening ceremony Oct. 13.

McCarthy was referring to the Army and Navy’s successful hypersonic glide body flight test this year, which launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Kauai, Hawaii, on March 19, an Army spokesperson confirmed.

https://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/ausa/2020/10/13/us-developed-hypersonic-missile-hit-within-six-inches-of-target-army-secretary-reports/
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 10/14/2020 02:14 pm
Quote
The Air Force is moving forward with a new Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile as one of its top two hypersonic weapons programs, Weapons Program Executive Officer Brig. Gen. Heath Collins said in a recent interview.

The service has discussed similar efforts underway in its hypersonic portfolio but has not yet named HACM as a central project. In July 2019, Aviation Week reported on the existence of two classified hypersonic programs that use the acronyms HACM and HCCW, but said the Air Force would not divulge information about either.

https://www.airforcemag.com/hypersonic-attack-cruise-missile-becomes-high-priority-usaf-project/
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 10/17/2020 08:39 am
Quote
Oct. 15 (UPI) -- The Pentagon established a Joint Hypersonics Transition Office Systems Engineering Field Activity at the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Crane, Ind., on Thursday.

https://www.upi.com/Defense-News/2020/10/15/DoD-establishes-hypersonics-center-at-Naval-Surface-Warfare-Center/1081602783240/
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 10/20/2020 10:03 am
Hypersonic related news from the SCMP:

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3106144/china-boosts-its-attack-range-launch-mysterious-new-hypersonic
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 10/22/2020 04:34 pm
Quote
Aeronautics is not the only division seeing a bump in classified contracts. Lockheed’s Space and Missile and Fire Control divisions are also seeing an uptick in secret work.

The missiles division, which is working on hypersonic weapons projects with the Aeronautics and Space divisions, won what Possenriede called a “large classified program” that is still in development.

“We will start to see — in the next four to five years — that go into limited-rate production, and then ultimately into production,” he said.

https://www.defenseone.com/business/2020/10/lockheed-building-air-forces-secret-fighter/169408/
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 10/27/2020 01:54 pm
Quote
WASHINGTON: The Pentagon has kicked off a five-year, $20 million effort led by Texas A&M University to do research on dozens of hypersonic weapons projects to stay ahead of China.

“We are in a bit of a race right now,” with China and Russia on developing the technology, Mark Lewis, acting deputy undersecretary of Defense for research and engineering (and director of defense research and engineering for modernization,) told reporters on a Monday call.

One of the models the DoD has looked at in developing the new consortium is the Chinese government’s, which works closely with its universities on hypersonic weapons programs. Lewis said they have noted that “China will integrate their students working on their various projects.”

https://breakingdefense.com/2020/10/a/?fbclid=IwAR2FFQ6P7AEIbWGUs2Vjg4kxeJ8OSNzERCEghmLfxMTqt1b_tg4aLano7Ag
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 11/03/2020 06:34 pm
Adapting to the hypersonic era:

http://defense360.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Williams_Hypersonic-Era_Final.pdf
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 11/30/2020 09:04 pm
Department of Defense Announces New Allied Prototyping Initiative Effort With Australia to Continue Partnership in Developing Air Breathing Hypersonic Vehicles

https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Releases/Release/Article/2429061/department-of-defense-announces-new-allied-prototyping-initiative-effort-with-a/
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 12/02/2020 04:42 pm
Quote
A Chinese-made "sodramjet" engine has reached nine times the speed of sound in a wind tunnel test. The engine could power an aircraft to reach anywhere in the world within two hours, the makers say.

https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/a34840801/sodramjet-engine-hypersonic-flight-test/
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 01/07/2021 03:51 pm
Quote
Aerojet Rocketdyne and Northrop Grumman have demonstrated large scale scramjet technologies by testing engines with thrust levels exceeding 5,897 kg as part of the US Air Force’s (USAF’s) Medium Scale Critical Components (MSCC) test programme.

USAF spokesman Bryan Ripple said on 29 December that the service will move forward with larger scale, multi-mission platforms at speeds greater than Mach 5 because both propulsion systems met the service’s performance expectations. The MSCC sets the foundation for the design of hypersonic propulsion systems across a broad range of vehicle scale and Mach operability.

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/aerojet-rocketdyne-northrop-grumman-demonstrate-large-scale-scramjet-technologies
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: CameronD on 02/16/2021 01:09 am
Quote
Queensland aerospace company Hypersonix Launch Systems will receive Federal Government funding to fast track development of a reusable ‘green’ hypersonic scramjet capable of placing small satellites into Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

The Government will invest $956,000 through its Accelerating Commercialisation program to help the company develop a world first prototype engine called ‘SPARTAN’. Hypersonix Co-Founder and Head of Research and Development, Dr Michael Smart, is a leading Australian aerospace engineer specialising in scramjet technology.
.....
“We see a big opportunity for our scramjet technology, not only in the satellite market but for propelling passenger vehicles in the near future,” Dr Smart said. “We’re already thinking about other potential uses for our technology, especially its application for global tourism and business trips. It will greatly reduce the travel time between cities – you would be able to fly from Sydney to London in around two hours, for example.”
https://amtil.com.au/hypersonix-scramjet-amtil/
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: edzieba on 02/16/2021 08:46 am
Quote
Queensland aerospace company Hypersonix Launch Systems will receive Federal Government funding to fast track development of a reusable ‘green’ hypersonic scramjet capable of placing small satellites into Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

The Government will invest $956,000 through its Accelerating Commercialisation program to help the company develop a world first prototype engine called ‘SPARTAN’. Hypersonix Co-Founder and Head of Research and Development, Dr Michael Smart, is a leading Australian aerospace engineer specialising in scramjet technology.
.....
“We see a big opportunity for our scramjet technology, not only in the satellite market but for propelling passenger vehicles in the near future,” Dr Smart said. “We’re already thinking about other potential uses for our technology, especially its application for global tourism and business trips. It will greatly reduce the travel time between cities – you would be able to fly from Sydney to London in around two hours, for example.”
https://amtil.com.au/hypersonix-scramjet-amtil/
Looks like the ol' Austral Launch Vehicle (https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=39120.0) with some added buzzword-bingo and continued absence of hardware.
Title: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 03/05/2021 11:22 am
Pratt & Whitney Makes Hypersonic Revival As Pentagon Pushes Reuse

Quote
Later in service, including the final operational phase with NASA, the introduction of a digital automatic flight and inlet control system to orchestrate the position of the engine spikes and forward bypass doors had virtually eliminated the problem of inlet unstarts that hampered the aircraft in its early operation. Further improvement in control, and therefore performance, could be possible through the introduction of modern processors and faster actuators.

For additional performance growth, an updated J58 cycle could also conceivably provide a step toward higher Mach numbers. Options would include changes to the compressor design, materials improvements and adding supersonic combustion capability in the afterburner section. This radical redesign would also likely include fully closing off the turbine section for the maximum cruise condition.

Pratt & Whitney may also be dusting off J58 upgrade concepts studied in the late 1990s, when NASA evaluated boosting performance of the SR-71 to support its potential use in launching high-speed research vehicles and carrying captive experimental packages to higher speeds and altitudes. Some of these additional concepts involved increasing turbine exhaust temperature, raising compressor rotor speed, augmenting afterburner flow, and modifying compressor bleed and inlet guide vane schedules.

https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/aircraft-propulsion/pratt-whitney-makes-hypersonic-revival-pentagon-pushes-reuse
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 03/06/2021 09:06 am
https://mobile.twitter.com/TeamEglin/status/1367967876917891072

Quote
The
@usairforce
 prepares for its first booster test flight (BTF-1) of the AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW), expected in the next 30 days.
Read about it here.

Quote
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --
The Air Force prepares for its first booster test flight (BTF-1) of the AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW), expected in the next 30 days.

Following delivery of the ARRW test missile to Edwards Air Force Base, California March 1, and loading on a B-52H Stratofortress, immediate work began on pre-flight ground tests and checks to obtain certification for the flight to proceed as scheduled.

“The BTF-1 test vehicle is complete and is progressing through ground testing to verify its readiness for flight. The team has successfully dealt with COVID challenges and resolved technical findings not uncommon in a first-of-a-kind weapon system. We have minimized schedule delays while maintaining a laser focus on engineering rigor. Our first BTF will happen in the next 30 days, followed by several additional booster and all-up-round test flights by the end of the year,” said Brig. Gen. Heath Collins, Air Force Program Executive Officer for Weapons.

The ARRW program is a rapid prototyping project that will leverage cutting edge technologies to deliver a conventional hypersonic weapons capability to the warfighter in the early 2020s. The weapon system provides combatant commanders the capability to destroy high-value, time-sensitive targets.  ARRW expands precision-strike weapon systems’ capabilities by enabling survivable rapid response strikes against heavily defended targets.

The Air Force designed the ARRW booster test vehicle to achieve the high speeds necessary to deliver the ARRW glide vehicle and embedded ordnance package to designated targets required by U.S. combatant commanders. The ARRW program followed a rigorous systems engineering process with extensive ground and flight test campaigns to ensure a well-executed BTF event; BTF-1 will be the eighth flight test for the ARRW program, following seven captive carriage flight tests.

To ensure ARRW is mature for a production decision, the Air Force and Lockheed Martin took deliberate steps to achieve a high level of manufacturing readiness.  Assembly of the ARRW booster test vehicle on production-representative manufacturing lines is a major step toward this production readiness goal.

The ARRW BTF-1 will demonstrate the booster’s ability to reach operational speeds and collect other important data.  In addition to booster performance, the test vehicle will also validate safe separation and controllability of the missile away from the carrier B-52H, through ignition and boost phase, all the way up to separation of a simulated glide vehicle.  The simulated glider will not sustain flight, and will safely disintegrate soon after separation.  The 412th Test Wing will conduct the ARRW BTF series over the Point Mugu Sea Range in California.

https://www.eglin.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2527263/major-hypersonic-missile-testing-on-the-horizon/
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: sdsds on 03/06/2021 04:29 pm
Are there currently any civilian use cases for hypersonic flight? Or is this entirely the realm of the military?
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 03/06/2021 04:33 pm
Are there currently any civilian use cases for hypersonic flight? Or is this entirely the realm of the military?
Proposed hypersonic Air Force one is the main civilian proposal I’ve seen recently.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 03/11/2021 08:48 am
Quote
The Defense Department has identified hypersonics as one of the highest priority modernization areas, as Russia and China develop their own capable systems.

Hypersonic systems are able to travel on extended flights within the upper atmosphere — 80,000 to 200,000 feet — at speeds near and above Mach 5, and they're able to maneuver in ways that are hard for defenders to predict.

https://www.defense.gov/Explore/News/Article/Article/2518370/defense-officials-outline-hypersonics-development-strategy/
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: libra on 03/11/2021 09:28 am
That old boost-glide / skip-glide / hypersonic airbreathing vehicles debate.

Three different ways to achieve ultra-long range, ultra-fast atmospheric flight
- a rocket do all the work, or atmospheric boucing tries to help, or an airbreathing engine.

Some vehicles will be boosted by a rocket to high altitude and high speed, and then glide.

Others will bounce off the atmosphere to try and extend the range.

And others will air-breath their way to long range.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: CameronD on 03/11/2021 09:54 pm
That old boost-glide / skip-glide / hypersonic airbreathing vehicles debate.

Three different ways to achieve ultra-long range, ultra-fast atmospheric flight
- a rocket do all the work, or atmospheric boucing tries to help, or an airbreathing engine.

Some vehicles will be boosted by a rocket to high altitude and high speed, and then glide.

Others will bounce off the atmosphere to try and extend the range.

And others will air-breath their way to long range.

..and others are just plain hype and will never make it out the design office doors.
 
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 03/18/2021 02:56 pm
Quote
The Defense Department and the Norwegian Ministry of Defense jointly announced in April that they will partner on the development of an advanced solid fuel ramjet that could find use in supersonic and hypersonic weaponry.

The Tactical High-speed Offensive Ramjet for Extended Range, or THOR-ER, involves research by the U.S. Navy's Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, China Lake, California, and the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment and Norwegian industry partner Nammo Group to develop supporting technologies that in the future could be incorporated into a high-speed weapons program.

https://www.defense.gov/Explore/News/Article/Article/2540400/dod-working-with-norway-to-develop-high-speed-propulsion-technologies/
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 04/06/2021 08:16 pm
Quote
The first booster flight test of the Air Force’s AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon failed April 5. In a release issued April 6, the service acknowledged the failure is a “setback” for hypersonic progress, but said the test still provided “valuable information” for the program’s development.

The test, which was conducted at Point Mugu Sea Range, Calif., was supposed to be the first time ARRW fired its booster vehicle and flew on its own, but the missile did not “complete its launch sequence” and remained on the B-52H Stratofortress. The bomber then returned to Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.

https://www.airforcemag.com/hypersonic-arrw-booster-flight-test-unsuccessful
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: edzieba on 04/07/2021 10:15 am
As failures go that's not a hugely deleterious one. Embarrassing maybe, but a failsafe failing safe is rarely begrudged.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: ZChris13 on 04/07/2021 10:55 pm
Are there currently any civilian use cases for hypersonic flight? Or is this entirely the realm of the military?
Better predictions can be made on this once the supersonic business jet stuff plays out or bears fruit.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 04/08/2021 02:52 pm
Quote
A group of University of Arizona engineering faculty members is working together to advance research into vehicles moving five times faster than the speed of sound.

Over the course of 2020, faculty members in the Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering received more than $3 million in funding in support of their hypersonics research on objects that move faster than the speed of sound. Hypersonics are expected to play a critical role in the future of national defense, and UArizona is a key player in the field, due to longstanding expertise, international collaborations, industry partnerships and new experimental facilities.

The largest of the grants – $1.5 million from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research in collaboration with the German Aerospace Center, or DLR – will allow researchers to conduct wind tunnel experiments and simulations to complement flight tests being done by DLR. Most of the experiments will take place in UArizona's Mach 5 tunnel, known as LT5.  Air moves through the tunnel at five times the speed of sound.

https://news.arizona.edu/story/investigating-boundary-layers-hypersonic-flight
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 04/21/2021 03:58 pm
Government to Shell Out $15 Billion for Hypersonics

Quote
Between fiscal years 2015 and 2024, federal agencies will have spent about $15 billion on hypersonic weapons and related technologies, according to projections by a watchdog group.

The Government Accountability Office has identified 70 efforts across the Defense Department, Department of Energy and NASA, according to its recent report, “Hypersonic Weapons: DoD Should Clarify Roles and Responsibilities to Ensure Coordination Across Development Efforts.”

https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2021/4/21/government-to-shell-out-15-billion-for-hypersonics
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: SciNews on 05/12/2021 05:12 pm
University of Central Florida - Flying at Speeds up to Mach 17 Could Become Reality with UCF’s Developing Propulsion System
"The UCF-developed propulsion system could allow for flight speeds of Mach 6 to 17 (more than 4,600 to 13,000 miles per hour) and would have applications in air and space travel."
https://www.ucf.edu/news/flying-at-speeds-up-to-mach-16-could-become-reality-with-ucfs-developing-propulsion-system/
PNAS - Stabilized detonation for hypersonic propulsion
https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2102244118
"This work reports a significant step in attaining this goal: the discovery of an experimental configuration and flow conditions that generate a stabilized oblique detonation, a phenomenon that has the potential to revolutionize high-speed propulsion of the future."
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: su27k on 05/25/2021 05:24 am
Aerion Supersonic shuts down, ending plans to build silent high speed business jets (https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/21/aerion-supersonic-shuts-down-ending-plans-for-silent-business-jets.html)

Quote
Aerion Supersonic, the Nevada-based company that planned to build business jets capable of silently flying nearly twice as fast as commercial aircraft, is shutting down, the company confirmed to CNBC on Friday.

“In the current financial environment, it has proven hugely challenging to close on the scheduled and necessary large new capital requirements” to begin production of its AS2 supersonic jet, the company said in a statement.

“Aerion Corporation is now taking the appropriate steps in consideration of this ongoing financial environment,” the company said.
Title: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 05/28/2021 11:08 am
https://twitter.com/JenJudson/status/1398014927634305031

Quote
Inbox because I don't have any time for a story: Lockheed/Northrop conducted a live fire ground test of the first stage solid rocket motor being designed for the U.S. Navy’s Conventional Prompt Strike and Army’s Long Range Hypersonic Weapon programs today. It was successful.

Edited to update with the related links below:

https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/Press-Releases/display-pressreleases/Article/2636993/navy-tests-new-hypersonic-rocket-motor/

https://news.lockheedmartin.com/navy-cps-hypersonic-strike-test
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: CameronD on 06/01/2021 02:18 am
Quote
Shoal Group Pty Ltd, Black Sky Aerospace, REDARC Electronics Pty Ltd, REDARC Defence Systems, and Silentium Defence are thrilled to announce HISPEX, a unique sovereign high-speed weapons collaboration.

HISPEX will pursue development of high-speed (including hypersonic) weapons and related systems and services to provide Australia with a locally-owned and controlled capability responsive to enduring national security needs.

The collaboration will support research and development of high-speed weapon technologies while growing the community of expertise in Australia. HISPEX will provide accelerated technology maturation through an ongoing design effort supported by a series of flight tests, the first of which occurred earlier this year and can be seen in the video below.

HISPEX will be conducting a hypersonic launch later this year with further launches planned for 2022.

For more details click here https://bit.ly/3wNHrmi
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 06/01/2021 08:37 am
Get an error 404 on that link?
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: CameronD on 06/04/2021 12:05 am
Get an error 404 on that link?

Yeah.. the page seems to have been taken down.  FWIW, here's what it said (from Google cache):
Quote
31 MAY 2021
Sovereign High-Speed Weapons capability continues to grow.

Shoal Group, Black Sky Aerospace, REDARC Defence Systems, and Silentium Defence are thrilled to announce HISPEX, a unique sovereign high-speed weapons collaboration.

HISPEX will pursue development of high-speed (including hypersonic) weapons and related systems and services to provide Australia with a locally-owned and controlled capability responsive to enduring national security needs.

The collaboration will support research and development of high-speed weapon technologies while growing the community of expertise in Australia. HISPEX will provide accelerated technology maturation through an ongoing design effort supported by a series of flight tests, the first of which occurred earlier this year.

In the short-term, HISPEX will provide:

A guided experimentation platform with the ability to represent increasingly realistic high-speed weapon trajectories;
A specialised Digital Engineering design capability for high-speed weapons, including a High-Speed Virtual Design Laboratory Flight data sharing;
The ability to leverage of flow-on benefits of Digital Engineering data, for subsequent intelligence analysis and usage within the Australian Defence science and technology community; and
A low-risk, commercially viable roadmap to development of sovereign guided weapons, including industry and academic partnerships.

HISPEX will be conducting a hypersonic launch later this year with further launches planned for 2022.

It could be part of a plan to take part in the recently-announced $1 billion "Sovereign Guided Weapons Enterprise", but I'm not really up on the lingo.  If that's of interest, media release below:

https://www.pm.gov.au/media/sovereign-guided-weapons-manufacturing
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 06/04/2021 09:52 am
Quote
Ray was optimistic about progress with the ARRW, despite what he called “a few small challenges.”

ARRW, a joint Air Force and DARPA project being developed by Lockheed Martin, is a boost-glide vehicle that uses rocket propulsion to bring a glide vehicle up to speeds greater than Mach 5.  The ARRW’s booster rocket failed its first flight test on April 5, the service announced April 6, with the booster simply failing to launch from the B-52 H Stratofortress. It was the eighth test for the ARRW.

“I think we’re gonna do fine with it here next month,” Ray said regarding the ARRW. “Talking to (Brig.) Gen. Collins (program executive officer at the service’s armament directorate), you know, they’re being smart about this,” he said. “We’ll get there. This is not a problem that’s beyond us; it’s just a matter of time.”

Quote
As well as supporting ARRW, Ray was an early advocate for equipping the bomber fleet with the super-secret Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HACM). HACM will use an air-breathing scramjet engine rather than a boost-glide vehicle. Since it would be much smaller than ARRW, HACM could be fitted not just to big bombers but to Air Force fighters as well.

HACM is a “new start” for 2022, according to the Air Force budget justification documents. The service has slated slightly more than $200 million in research, development, test and evaluation (RDT&amp;E) money for the effort.

“The HACM project integrates Air Force and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) enabled system technologies into a prototype that will demonstrate the viability of a multi-mission weapon concept to be fielded as a long range prompt strike capability. HACM will design, develop, manufacture, and test, a number of prototype vehicles to inform decisions concerning future HACM acquisition and production,” the budget documents say.

https://breakingdefense.com/2021/06/b-21-speeds-to-ioc-arrw-test-slated-for-next-month-ray/
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: SciNews on 06/05/2021 03:46 pm
U.S Navy 27 May 2021: "Navy Tests New Hypersonic Rocket Motor"
Quote
Navy Strategic Systems Programs (SSP) successfully conducted a test of the First Stage Solid Rocket Motor (SRM) on May 27th in Promontory, Utah as part of the development of the Navy’s Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) offensive hypersonic strike capability and the Army’s Long Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW).
https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/Press-Releases/display-pressreleases/Article/2636993/navy-tests-new-hypersonic-rocket-motor/

U.S Navy 01 June 2021: "USS Paul Ignatius (DDG 117) Successfully Intercepts Ballistic Targets"
Quote
USS Paul Ignatius (DDG 117) fired two Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) interceptors to engage ballistic missile targets launched from the Hebrides Range, May 26 and May 30, 2021.
Quote
The intercepts are kinetic, effectively hitting a bullet with a bullet at hypersonic speed in space.
https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/News-Stories/Article/2639860/uss-paul-ignatius-ddg-117-successfully-intercepts-ballistic-targets/


Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: CameronD on 06/06/2021 11:53 pm
For something a little more civilian:
Quote
Queensland-based Hypersonix is disrupting the global satellite launch market and leading the way in ‘Green Space' and sustainable launch.  Hypersonix is using green hydrogen powered fifth generation scramjets and a fully reusable hypersonic platform to launch small satellites to any LEO orbit from any launch site to ‘fly to space’.

Hypersonix is commercialising technology that has evolved from the NASA / Defence Science & Technological Group Australian HIFiRE Program, and the earlier University of Queensland research in hypersonics led by Professor Ray Stalker.

Founder and Head of Research Development Dr Michael Smart, who spent 10 years with NASA and 15 years at the University of Queensland’s Centre for Hypersonics, says in the short-term the company plans to provide replenishment services for the Australian and international small satellite launch market, which in 2020 saw 1,193 smallsats placed into orbit.

“By 2030 the market aims to launch 50,000 smallsats and we want to be part of this,” he said.

The company recently announced a partnership with Boeing Research & Technology (BR&T) to conduct a joint study on the design of a reusable hypersonic vehicle for the sustainable launch of satellites to Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

“This low cost, reliable, reusable and rapid turn-around launch of small satellites to LEO would be the first application of scramjets for space launch,” Dr Smart said.

The company will use BOC locally produced green hydrogen to power its entry into the space race, produced by using renewable energy to split water into hydrogen and oxygen.

"We both share a desire to bring the principles of ‘Green Space’ to the small satellite launch market, and this is something that sets us apart. We are determined to go to space, but in a way that is sustainable for our planet by design,” Dr Smart concluded.

Hypersonix secured a Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources Accelerating Commercialisation Grant last year, for the design and build of a re-usable satellite launch vehicle scramjet engine powered by hydrogen.
https://www.spaceconnectonline.com.au/launch/4913-queensland-launch-companies-rocketing-into-global-space-race

Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: sanman on 06/07/2021 09:20 pm
Quote
The Defense Department and the Norwegian Ministry of Defense jointly announced in April that they will partner on the development of an advanced solid fuel ramjet that could find use in supersonic and hypersonic weaponry.

The Tactical High-speed Offensive Ramjet for Extended Range, or THOR-ER, involves research by the U.S. Navy's Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, China Lake, California, and the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment and Norwegian industry partner Nammo Group to develop supporting technologies that in the future could be incorporated into a high-speed weapons program.

https://www.defense.gov/Explore/News/Article/Article/2540400/dod-working-with-norway-to-develop-high-speed-propulsion-technologies/

Isn't this something like what the British Meteor missile does?

Is the Meteor ushering in a new wave of imitation-innovations?
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Asteroza on 06/07/2021 10:12 pm
Quote
The Defense Department and the Norwegian Ministry of Defense jointly announced in April that they will partner on the development of an advanced solid fuel ramjet that could find use in supersonic and hypersonic weaponry.

The Tactical High-speed Offensive Ramjet for Extended Range, or THOR-ER, involves research by the U.S. Navy's Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, China Lake, California, and the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment and Norwegian industry partner Nammo Group to develop supporting technologies that in the future could be incorporated into a high-speed weapons program.

https://www.defense.gov/Explore/News/Article/Article/2540400/dod-working-with-norway-to-develop-high-speed-propulsion-technologies/

Isn't this something like what the British Meteor missile does?

Is the Meteor ushering in a new wave of imitation-innovations?

Er, if by innovation you mean switching from pure solid fueled rocket to throttleable ramjet (aka gas generator air augmented ducted rocket) , then yes...
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: sanman on 06/07/2021 10:36 pm
Isn't this something like what the British Meteor missile does?

Is the Meteor ushering in a new wave of imitation-innovations?

Er, if by innovation you mean switching from pure solid fueled rocket to throttleable ramjet (aka gas generator air augmented ducted rocket) , then yes...

But Meteor uses some kind of Boron gel / solid for its gas generation  -- is this an indispensible ingredient for the Throttleable Ducted Ramjet (TDR) idea?

I'm just trying to imagine if this could somehow be practical to use for an hypersonic transport aircraft, rather than a long-range missile.

Suppose the solid rocket portion were used to accelerate a transport aircraft up to some appropriate mach number, and then this gas-generator then kicks in for long-distance hypersonic flight using the TDR?
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Asteroza on 06/08/2021 11:19 pm
Isn't this something like what the British Meteor missile does?

Is the Meteor ushering in a new wave of imitation-innovations?

Er, if by innovation you mean switching from pure solid fueled rocket to throttleable ramjet (aka gas generator air augmented ducted rocket) , then yes...


But Meteor uses some kind of Boron gel / solid for its gas generation  -- is this an indispensible ingredient for the Throttleable Ducted Ramjet (TDR) idea?

I'm just trying to imagine if this could somehow be practical to use for an hypersonic transport aircraft, rather than a long-range missile.

Suppose the solid rocket portion were used to accelerate a transport aircraft up to some appropriate mach number, and then this gas-generator then kicks in for long-distance hypersonic flight using the TDR?

The moment boron is mentioned as a fuel, commercial operation is basically untenable due to exhaust toxicity and residue/damage to the engine. Military boron fuels were generally limited to disposable devices, or reserved for wartime usage as it would cause permanent levels of damage. The boron does allow a more compact/lighter setup though, which is why you find mention of it in military systems that are severely weight constrained or have extremely high performance demands (boron zip fuel for the high speed dash portion of a penetration mission). But it isn't fundamentally necessary for a throttleable ducted rocket. As long as you have a fuel rich gas generator pumping into the ramjet combustor zone that can be throttled, a TDR exists (which is also an ejector ramjet). A simple example would be a LOx/Jet-A strutjet, using airport available LOx to feed the gas generator rocket in the struts of a ramjet flameholder, which eventually switches to pure ramjet mode, shutting down the LOx feed.

If I understand it correctly, some of the more advanced VFDR designs run the solid fuel gas generator at full throttle at launch with the inlet closed for the launch pulse to get up to speed, then throttle down the gas generator and open the inlet for more efficient flight. Otherwise, they have a separate launch rocket motor stuffed in the ramjet combustor space which gets ejected out the rear when the inlets open.

Rocket accelerator assist for commercial aircraft has been done, but is not in general service currently and for good reason. Usually those are strangely called JATO packs (even though they are rockets so should be called RATO). Commercial service is generally leery of anything solid fueled to begin with, outside of oxygen generators and even then they've had accidents so they really don't want them.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 07/05/2021 10:38 am
Quote
The US Navy has contracted Kratos Defense &amp; Security Solutions’ Defense &amp; Rocket Support Services (DRSS) Division to develop hypersonic experimental test vehicle.

The contract was awarded by the Navy Surface Warfare Center Port Hueneme (NSWC PHD) Division, White Sands Detachment.

The vehicle will be used to conduct flight tests and demonstration opportunities in appropriate environments and support high-speed flight technology maturation.

https://www.naval-technology.com/news/kratos-wins-us-navy-contract-to-build-hypersonic-experimental-test-vehicle/
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: libra on 07/05/2021 03:59 pm
I hope kratos vehicle won't... crater. (I'll get my coat)
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 07/09/2021 07:30 pm
Hypersonics Breakthroughs Are Boosting Range, Speed and Survivability

https://www.northropgrumman.com/what-we-do/advanced-weapons/hypersonics-breakthroughs-are-boosting-range-speed-and-survivability/
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 07/14/2021 02:23 pm
Quote
The United States has actively pursued the development of hypersonic weapons—maneuvering weapons that fly at speeds of at least Mach 5—as a part of its conventional prompt global strike program since the early 2000s. In recent years, the United States has focused such efforts on developing hypersonic glide vehicles, which are launched from a rocket before gliding to a target, and hypersonic cruise missiles, which are powered by high-speed, air-breathing engines during flight. As Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and former Commander of U.S. Strategic Command General John Hyten has stated, these weapons could enable “responsive, long-range, strike options against distant, defended, and/or time-critical threats [such as road-mobile missiles] when other forces are unavailable, denied access, or not preferred.” Critics, on the other hand, contend that hypersonic weapons lack defined mission requirements, contribute little to U.S. military capability, and are unnecessary for deterrence.

https://news.usni.org/2021/07/14/report-to-congress-on-hypersonic-weapons-3
Title: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 07/20/2021 07:14 pm
Recent test launch of the ‘Zircon’ hypersonic cruise missile:

https://youtu.be/JMw7DJovyyM

https://www.spacewar.com/m/reports/Russia_test_fires_Zircon_hypersonic_cruise_missile_999.html

https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/weapons/a37068781/watch-russia-test-hypersonic-zircon-missile/
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 07/21/2021 11:15 am
https://twitter.com/VincentLamigeon/status/1413752244860858369
Title: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 08/05/2021 03:12 pm
Quote
In another blow for U.S. hypersonic flight testing, John Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory confirmed that a long-delayed flow physics flight experiment supported by the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory failed to meet “all science objectives” after an anomaly with the launch vehicle...

https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/aircraft-propulsion/usaf-sponsored-hypersonic-bolt-experiment-flops

That follows this news.

Quote
The U.S. Air Force is in the process of determining the root cause of last week’s failed hypersonic missile test, but the program still has time to push through flight testing and begin production of the new, cutting-edge weapon by the end of fiscal 2022, a program official said Wednesday.

During the second booster flight test of the AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon, which occurred July 28 over Point Mugu Sea Range near southern California, the missile’s engine failed to ignite after the weapon was launched from a B-52 bomber.

Program officials have been unable to identify what went wrong during the test or how to fix it, said Brig. Gen. Heath Collins, the Air Force’s program executive officer for weapons.

https://www.defensenews.com/air/2021/08/04/after-latest-flight-test-failure-us-air-force-hoping-to-keep-first-hypersonic-missile-on-track-for-production/
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 08/06/2021 08:53 am
HERMEUS FULLY-FUNDED TO FLIGHT WITH $60 MILLION U.S. AIR FORCE PARTNERSHIP

August 5, 2021

Hermeus, the aerospace company developing Mach 5 aircraft, announced today the signing of a $60 million U.S. Air Force partnership for flight testing its first aircraft, Quarterhorse. Quarterhorse will validate the company's proprietary turbine-based combined cycle (TBCC) engine, based around the GE J85 turbojet engine, and is the first in a line of autonomous high-speed aircraft. By the end of the flight test campaign, Quarterhorse will be the fastest reusable aircraft in the world and the first of its kind to fly a TBCC engine.

The award was made under the AFWERX Strategic Funding Increase (STRATFI) program led by the Presidential and Executive Airlift Directorate (PE) as a follow-on to a Phase II SBIR contract. The collaboration also includes support from the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). 

“Small business partnership is recognized by the U.S. Air Force as an important component to driving innovation. Reducing risk in high speed transport technologies, as we are doing with this contract, provides near-term and long-term benefits to both the U.S. Air Force and the defense industrial base.” said Lt. Col. Joshua Burger, the Vector Initiative program manager who is spearheading the effort. “We are very excited to see Hermeus translate their demonstrated successes in engine prototyping into flight systems.”

Some may argue that it is impossible to flight test a TBCC engine across the full flight envelope for less than $100 million.  However, Hermeus is taking a different approach than traditional high-speed flight test programs. Hermeus will be leveraging autonomous and reusable systems, ruthlessly focused requirements, and a hardware-rich program.  These three strategies allow the team to push the envelope, sometimes strategically to the point of failure in flight test, which accelerates learning while simultaneously improving the safety of flight test crew and the public.  Pushing more risk to flight allows Hermeus to move through the engineering lifecycle quickly, reducing programmatic costs.  When exploring beyond the speeds that airbreathing aircraft have flown before, learning must come through testing in the real world.

The technology set Hermeus has chosen positions the company firmly in the dual-use space for hypersonic technology, i.e. technologies normally used for civilian purposes but which may have military applications. "While this partnership with the U.S. Air Force underscores U.S. Department of Defense interest in hypersonic aircraft, when paired with Hermeus' partnership with NASA announced in February 2021, it is clear that there are both commercial and defense applications for what we're building," said Hermeus CEO and co-founder, AJ Piplica.

High-res renders of Quarterhorse and additional photography can be found HERE.

ABOUT HERMEUS

Hermeus is a venture-backed startup with the long-term vision of transforming the global human transportation network with Mach 5 aircraft. At Mach 5, travel is not just supersonic, it's hypersonic. At these speeds – over 3,000 miles per hour – flight times from New York to London will be 90 minutes rather than seven hours. Mach 5 aircraft have the potential to create an additional four trillion dollars of global economic growth per year, unlocking significant resources that can be utilized to solve the world’s great problems.

Contact: [email protected]

https://www.hermeus.com/press-release-funded-to-flight

https://vimeo.com/545657945
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 08/06/2021 08:55 am
More information on the above in this article.

https://www.defensenews.com/air/2021/08/05/aerospace-startup-gets-60m-from-the-us-air-force-to-build-hypersonic-passenger-plane/
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Asteroza on 08/09/2021 10:06 pm
Hermeus sounds like they are wrapping a precooled ramjet around a J58 core to get more mach numbers out of it. Which isn't a bad idea per se, and builds on existing J58 experience.

Hrm, I wonder how much work has been done on wrapping a turbine around a ramjet though? Or is having a huge bearing for the turbine shaft make that unattractive?
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 08/10/2021 05:01 pm
Air Force press release:

Air Force awards contract to Hermeus


WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio – In an effort to accelerate the commercial development of hypersonic aircraft and propulsion systems, the U.S. Air Force is investing in the Hermeus Corporation – a U.S. based aerospace company – via a $60 million jointly funded contract that was awarded July 30.

Currently, the company is developing a hypersonic aircraft capable of flying at five times the speed of sound. At this speed a flight from New York to Paris would only take 90 minutes, compared to the seven and a half hours it typically takes today.

The contract is being funded by the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s Presidential and Executive Airlift Directorate, the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), and various venture capital sources.

The engagement with Hermeus is part of a larger effort led by the directorate to fuel the burgeoning commercial resurgence of high speed passenger travel, and has been dubbed the “Vector Initiative”. 

The initiative aims to partner with commercial sector leaders to accelerate their development and, as a byproduct, advance enabling technologies that could provide the Air Force options for a variety of missions.

AFWERX, an AFRL Technology Directorate – responsible for expanding technology, talent, and transition partnerships for rapid and affordable commercial and military capability – has been an integral part of the initiative’s ability to reach out to industry, and helped make the joint funding effort possible, via its Strategic Financing (StratFI) program. The program is designed to connect Airmen, DoD acquisition offices, and private investors to facilitate the delivery of strategic capabilities for the Air Force. The Hermeus contract will be the first time that the StratFI program has been used.

“We are transforming the Air and Space Force into an early-stage ‘investor’ that leverages private capital, accelerates commercialization of technology and grows the number of companies partnering with the Department of the Air Force,” said Col. Nathan Diller, AFWERX director. “It has been great working with the team to help identify innovative companies with advanced capabilities.”

“One of our goals in supporting companies like Hermeus, is to expand the Defense Industrial Base for both aircraft manufacture, and hypersonic propulsion development,” added Brig. Gen. Jason Lindsey, the Program Executive Officer for Presidential & Executive Airlift. “Ultimately we want to have options within the commercial aircraft marketplace for platforms that can be modified for enduring Air Force missions such as senior leader transport, as well as mobility, ISR, and possibly other mission sets.”

The contract establishes a number of objectives for Hermeus to meet within three years, to include the following:

1) Increase in the understanding of enabling technology and mission capabilities for reusable hypersonic aircraft.
2) Scale and flight test a reusable hypersonic propulsion system.
3) Develop, build and test 3 of Hermeus’ Quarterhorse concept aircraft.
4) Provide a payload integration guide for future hypersonic flight testing with Quarterhorse.
5) Provide wargaming inputs for use in Air Force strategic analysis tools.

“When it comes to technology, we often hear the term ‘game-changing,’” said Maj. Gen. Heather Pringle, commander of the Air Force Research Laboratory. “However hypersonic aircraft and propulsion systems are truly game-changing, and will revolutionize how we travel, just as automobiles did in the last century. We are excited to be part of this effort, and to help propel this important technology.”

Following the three year period of performance, the Air Force will evaluate Hermeus’ progress, maturity of the hypersonic technology, and alignment with Air Force priorities.

“This contract award marks a continuation of an excellent partnership with the Hermeus team,” said Capt. Mark Kite, the Vector Initiative’s action officer, “Hermeus is well poised to develop future commercial products that have military application and we look forward to partnering with future companies that exhibit similar opportunities for the Air Force.”

https://www.aflcmc.af.mil/news/article-display/article/2720331/air-force-awards-contract-to-hermeus/
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 08/12/2021 09:32 am
Quote
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — A second, more challenging flight test of the Common-Hypersonic Glide Body is expected to take place in the final quarter of the calendar year, according to both Army and industry officials involved in the program.

The Defense Department has been jointly developing the C-HGB that will serve as the base of its offensive hypersonic missile. The test marks a major step forward in accomplishing that mission amid mounting criticism that the United States is behind China and Russia in hypersonic weapons development.

The C-HGB will be made up of the weapon’s warhead, guidance system, cabling and thermal protection shield. Each service will use the C-HGB as the base while developing individual weapon systems such as launchers capable of firing the weapons from land or sea.

https://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/smd/2021/08/11/next-flight-test-of-hypersonic-glide-body-expected-by-years-end/
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: SciNews on 08/24/2021 07:07 am
Scientific American - The Physics and Hype of Hypersonic Weapons
"These novel missiles cannot live up to the grand promises made on their behalf, aerodynamics shows"
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-physics-and-hype-of-hypersonic-weapons/
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 08/26/2021 07:45 pm
Navy Tests Second Stage Hypersonic Rocket Motor

WASHINGTON - Navy Strategic Systems Programs (SSP) successfully conducted a test of the Second Stage Solid Rocket Motor (SRM) on August 25th in Promontory, Utah as part of the development of the Navy’s Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) offensive hypersonic strike capability and the Army’s Long Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW).

This was the initial live fire test of the second stage SRM and follows a successful test of the first stage SRM on May 27th, 2021. This test marked the successful testing of both stages of the newly developed missile booster, as well as a thrust vector control system on the SRM. These tests are a vital step in the development of a Navy-designed common hypersonic missile that will be fielded by both the Navy and Army.

The second stage SRM will be part of a new missile booster for the services, and will be combined with a Common Hypersonic Glide Body (CHGB) to create the common hypersonic missile.  Each service will use the common hypersonic missile, while developing individual weapon systems and launchers tailored for launch from sea or land. This successful SRM test represents a critical milestone leading up to the next series of Navy and Army joint flight tests and will lead to the fielding of the CPS and LRHW weapon systems.

The Department of Defense successfully tested the CHGB on March 20, 2020.  The services are working closely with government national laboratories and industry to continue development and production of the CHGB. The Navy is the lead designer of the CHGB, and the Army leads production of the CHGB.

Information gathered from this and future tests will further inform the services offensive hypersonic technology development.  The Department of Defense (DoD) is working in collaboration with industry, government national laboratories, and academia to field hypersonic warfighting capability in the early-to mid-2020s.

Hypersonic weapons, capable of flying at speeds greater than five times the speed of sound (Mach 5), are highly maneuverable and operate at varying altitudes.  In a matter of minutes, Navy and Army warfighters can defeat high-value targets hundreds or even thousands of miles away. Delivering hypersonic weapons is one of the DoD's highest priorities.

The common hypersonic missile design for sea and land-based applications provides economies of scale for future production, and relies upon a growing U.S. hypersonics industrial base.

https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/News-Stories/Article/2747814/navy-tests-second-stage-hypersonic-rocket-motor/
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: CameronD on 09/10/2021 12:57 am
RMIT Reveals New Development in Hypersonic Flight

Ultra-efficient 3D printed catalysts developed by researchers at RMIT University, are tipped to solve the challenge of overheating in hypersonic aircraft.

The highly versatile catalysts are designed to be cost-effective to make and simple to scale in order to offer a revolutionary solution to thermal management across countless industries.

The team at RMIT lab demonstrations show the 3D printed catalysts could potentially be used to power hypersonic flight while simultaneously cooling the system.

According to lead researcher Dr Selvakannan Periasamy, their work tackled one of the biggest challenges in the development of hypersonic aircraft: controlling the incredible heat that builds up when planes fly at more than five times the speed of sound.

https://australianaviation.com.au/2021/09/rmit-reveals-new-development-in-hypersonic-flight/
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: edzieba on 09/10/2021 10:45 am
RMIT Reveals New Development in Hypersonic Flight

Ultra-efficient 3D printed catalysts developed by researchers at RMIT University, are tipped to solve the challenge of overheating in hypersonic aircraft.

The highly versatile catalysts are designed to be cost-effective to make and simple to scale in order to offer a revolutionary solution to thermal management across countless industries.

The team at RMIT lab demonstrations show the 3D printed catalysts could potentially be used to power hypersonic flight while simultaneously cooling the system.

According to lead researcher Dr Selvakannan Periasamy, their work tackled one of the biggest challenges in the development of hypersonic aircraft: controlling the incredible heat that builds up when planes fly at more than five times the speed of sound.

https://australianaviation.com.au/2021/09/rmit-reveals-new-development-in-hypersonic-flight/
Paper (https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2021/CC/D1CC04246G (https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2021/CC/D1CC04246G)) is paywalled, but this article (https://newatlas.com/aircraft/tiny-heat-exchanger-hypersonic-plane-fuel-coolant/ (https://newatlas.com/aircraft/tiny-heat-exchanger-hypersonic-plane-fuel-coolant/)) has a bit more detail than the australianaviation one (which omits mentioning what the catalyst is actually for): The fuel is stored as a long-chain hydrocarbon, a closed-cycle heat pump captures heat from the leading edges and transfers it to the fuel-covered catalyst, which uses that energy to crack the fuel into short-chain hydrocarbons for the engine to burn. Similar to the Ammonia fuel concept Reaction Engines have proposed but with catalysed decomposition rather than thermal decomposition. The 3D printing allows a tailored microstructure to the catalyst, increasing efficiency by promoting migration of the metals that do the catalysing.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 09/27/2021 06:53 pm
Quote
The Raytheon/Northrop Grumman scramjet demonstrator has flown. It's the 1st successful flight test over M5 by a US scramjet since the X-51 in 8 years. DARPA's Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept also funded a competing demonstrator by Lockheed Martin/Aerojet. No word on that.

https://mobile.twitter.com/TheDEWLine/status/1442549602788335624
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: SciNews on 10/12/2021 05:48 pm
Georgia Institute of Technology - Department of Defense Funds Georgia Tech to Enhance U.S. Hypersonics Capabilities
https://news.gatech.edu/news/2021/10/05/department-defense-funds-georgia-tech-enhance-us-hypersonics-capabilities
Quote
University Consortium for Applied Hypersonics (UCAH) has tapped the Georgia Institute of Technology and key academic partners for four grants valued at $6 million over the next three years.
Title: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 10/22/2021 06:56 pm
Quote
Updated 6:20 PM EST:

U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Tim Gorman, a Pentagon spokesperson, has provided the following statement regarding today's failed test:

On Oct. 21, the Department of Defense conducted a data collection experiment from the Pacific Spaceport Complex-Alaska, Kodiak, AK, to inform the department’s hypersonic technology development. The test did not occur as planned due to a failure of the booster stack. The booster stack used in the test was not part of the hypersonic program and is not related to the Common Hypersonic Glide Body. The missile booster is used for testing purposes only. Program officials have initiated a review to determine the cause of the booster system failure to inform future tests. Experiments and tests – both successful and unsuccessful – are the backbone of developing highly complex, critical technologies at tremendous speed, as the department is doing with hypersonic technologies. Delivering hypersonic weapons remains a top priority, and the department remains confident that it is on track to field offensive hypersonic capabilities beginning in the early 2020s. This flight test is part of an ongoing series of flight tests as we continue to develop this technology.

From this statement, it remains unclear whether whatever this missile was actually left the launch pad. We still don't know exactly what the reason for the booster stack's failure was, either.

In addition, this statement raises questions about exactly what was under test today, especially if it is entirely unrelated to the Common Hypersonic Glide Body (C-HGB). This C-HGB is the boost-glide vehicle that will be used on Army and Navy's common hypersonic missile.

Quote
Updated 7:00 PM EST:

It has been brought to our attention that the failed test may have been one known as Hypersonic Flight Test-3, or FT-3.

Quote
Updated 7:30 PM EST:

The Navy has now released additional information on the earlier hypersonic tests at Wallops Island in Virginia. A trio of what were described as precision sounding rockets were used to carry out those "hypersonic experiments" in cooperation with the Navy's Conventional Prompt Strike program office, the Army's Hypersonic Program Office, the Pentagon's Joint Hypersonic Transition Office, Sandia National Laboratories, Johns Hopkins University's Applied Physics Laboratory, the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the MITRE Corporation, and "several defense contractors," according to an official release.

"During weapon system development, precision sounding rocket launches fill a critical gap between ground testing and full system flight testing," the official release added. "These launches allow for frequent and regular flight testing opportunities to support rapid maturation of offensive and defensive hypersonic technologies."

"This test is a vital step in the development of a Navy-designed common hypersonic missile, consisting of a Common Hypersonic Glide Body (CHGB) and booster, which will be fielded by both the Navy and Army with individual weapon systems and launchers tailored for launch from sea or land," it continued. "The Department of Defense (DoD) successfully tested the CHGB on March 20, 2020. The Navy and Army will continue to work in close collaboration to leverage joint testing opportunities."

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/42837/new-u-s-long-range-hypersonic-weapon-test-fails-updated
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: SciNews on 10/23/2021 08:34 am
United States Navy - Navy and Army Demonstrate Advanced Hypersonic Technologies
https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/News-Stories/Article/2818208/navy-and-army-demonstrate-advanced-hypersonic-technologies/
Sandia National Laboratories: News Releases : 1 day. 3 rockets. 23 experiments.
Quote
Sandia National Laboratories launched three sounding rockets in succession for the Department of Defense on Wednesday. The triple launch was conducted at NASA’s launch range at Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia to hasten development of 23 technologies for the nation’s hypersonic modernization priority, including the Navy’s Conventional Prompt Strike and the Army’s Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon programs.
https://newsreleases.sandia.gov/triple_launch/
NASA - NASA Wallops Supports Department of Defense Rocket Launches
https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/nasa-wallops-supports-department-of-defense-rocket-launches
Title: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 11/02/2021 04:58 pm
Quote
WASHINGTON - The Navy Strategic Systems Programs (SSP) successfully conducted a second test of the First Stage Solid Rocket Motor (SRM) on October 28, 2021, in Promontory, Utah, as part of the development of the Navy’s Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) offensive hypersonic strike capability and the Army’s Long Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW). The offensive weapon systems will enable precise and timely strike capability against deep inland targets in contested environments.

https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/News-Stories/Article/2827117/navy-hypersonic-rocket-motor-moves-closer-to-flight-testing/

Quote
US Navy And US Army Demonstrate Advanced Hypersonic Technologies

The Navy Strategic Systems Programs (SSP) and the Army Hypersonic Program Office (AHPO) successfully conducted a High Operational Tempo for Hypersonics flight campaign on October 20, 2021.

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2021/10/us-navy-and-us-army-demonstrate-advanced-hypersonic-technologies/
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: SciNews on 11/09/2021 06:16 am
For sale at auction:
"CIAM-NASA Hypersonic Flying Laboratory »Kholod«, 1991 - Developed by the Central Institute of Aviation Motors CIAM) USSR. Fastest series-produced flying object from 1991 to 1998. Only 3 more known worldwide."
https://newatlas.com/military/cold-war-russian-hypersonic-test-missile-sold-auction/
http://www.breker.com/english/index.htm
Other items in the auction "Lavochkin V-751« Supersonic Flying Laboratory, 1957 - Two-stage rocket, length 10,8 m/425 in." and "Laboratory Test Model of »Sputnik 1 EMC/EMI«, 1957 Full-Scale model of the »Sputnik-1« satellite."
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Crispy on 11/22/2021 11:30 am
https://www.ft.com/content/18f6edf8-2994-4745-a06e-161f601df4b4 (https://www.ft.com/content/18f6edf8-2994-4745-a06e-161f601df4b4)

Google "Chinese hypersonic weapon fired a missile over South China Sea" if you get a paywall.
How on earth do you conceal/mount something on a hypersonic vehicle and not completely wreck the aerodynamics when you deploy it?
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: edzieba on 11/22/2021 12:33 pm
https://www.ft.com/content/18f6edf8-2994-4745-a06e-161f601df4b4 (https://www.ft.com/content/18f6edf8-2994-4745-a06e-161f601df4b4)

Google "Chinese hypersonic weapon fired a missile over South China Sea" if you get a paywall.
How on earth do you conceal/mount something on a hypersonic vehicle and not completely wreck the aerodynamics when you deploy it?
Deployment into the wake (e.g. the A-5's rear-facing bay) is the most common concept for hypersonic deployment. The SLAM intended to eject monitions vertically at Mach 4+, bit it is unclear how far that concept reached in terms of actual testing.
Title: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 12/21/2021 04:44 pm
Quote
The Navy Strategic Systems Program and the Department of Defense this week tested a conventional prompt strike capability that could one day be fielded from guided-missile submarines.

The Pentagon’s conventional prompt global strike capability would allow the U.S. to hit any target on the planet with precision-guided weapons in less than an hour, supplementing the comparable nuclear strike capability and serving as another deterrence effort.

Strategic Systems Program (SSP) Director Vice Adm. Terry Benedict said on Nov. 2 that “I’m very proud to report that at 0300 on Monday night SSP flew from Hawaii [Pacific Missile Range Facility] … the first conventional prompt strike missile for the United States Navy in the form factor that would eventually, could eventually be utilized if leadership chooses to do so in an Ohio-class tube. It’s a monumental achievement.”

Quote
Pentagon spokesman Cmdr. Patrick Evans told USNI News today that “the Navy Strategic Systems Program (SSP), on behalf of the Department of Defense, conducted an Intermediate Range Conventional Prompt Strike Flight Experiment-1 (CPS FE-1) test on Oct. 30, 2017, from Pacific Missile Range Facility, Kauai, Hawaii. The test collected data on hypersonic boost-glide technologies and test-range performance for long-range atmospheric flight. This data will be used by the Department of Defense to anchor ground testing, modeling, and simulation of hypersonic flight vehicle performance and is applicable to a range of possible Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) concepts.”

https://news.usni.org/2017/11/03/navy-conducts-flight-test-support-conventional-prompt-strike-ohio-class-boomers
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 12/21/2021 04:50 pm
Quote
The U.S. Air Force has revealed new details about its secretive Mayhem hypersonic air vehicle program. Previously it was understood that this program was focused, at least in part, on acquiring testbeds to support work on advanced high-speed jet engines like the ones that have reportedly been in development for proposed hypersonic aircraft such as Lockheed Martin's SR-72. The service has now disclosed that it is seeking a modular experimental design that could be configured to carry one of two different kinds of payloads for strike missions, or a sensor package to enable it to conduct "responsive" intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, or ISR, sorties.

The new information about Mayhem was contained in a contracting document that the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) posted online on Dec. 14, 2021. That same document also indicates that the full formal name of the program has changed from "Expendable Hypersonic Multi-Mission Air-Breathing Demonstrator" to "Hypersonic Multi-mission ISR and Strike." The name "Multi-Mission Cruiser" had been associated with this project in the past, as well. Mayhem, which the Air Force first disclosed the existence of last year, is also part of a larger AFRL effort known as Enabling Technologies for High-Speed Operable Systems (ETHOS).

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/43545/hypersonic-strike-aircraft-capability-is-part-of-air-forces-shadowy-project-mayhem
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 01/05/2022 02:06 pm
Quote
A couple more detailed images of newly unveiled
@Boeing
 Mach 5 reusable hypersonic concept at #AIAASciTech here in San Diego

https://twitter.com/AvWeekGuy/status/1478491208452227072
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 01/10/2022 01:57 pm
Quote
The world’s first wind tunnel capable of testing a full-sized hypersonic missile through the critical stages of flight has been operating in China and helped prevent expensive test failures such as setbacks seen in the United States, according to scientists involved in the Chinese project.

The facility’s name, location and top Mach rating remained classified, but it had played an important role in China’s hypersonic weapons programme, allowing ground tests that could expose critical engineering and technological issues before missiles go up for a test flight, the researchers said.

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3162118/chinas-secret-wind-tunnel-key-testing-hypersonic-missiles-and
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 01/12/2022 03:26 pm
Quote
Boeing has revealed an updated concept for its Valkyrie reusable, unmanned hypersonic aircraft that indicates new design approaches for inlets and shaping.

https://www.airforcemag.com/boeing-updated-valkyrie-reveals-evolving-hypersonic-design/
Title: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 01/26/2022 04:38 pm
Quote
The Air Force still doesn't know what caused a December launch of the AGM-183A Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon to fail, but it still has time to wrap up flight tests by the end of fiscal 2022, Brig. Gen. Heath Collins said.

https://breakingdefense.com/2022/01/air-forces-first-hypersonic-missile-could-still-start-production-this-year/

Quote
A hypersonic cruise missile under development by the US and Australia uses an air-breathing scramjet engine and is meant to be carried by Australia's F-18s and F-35As, as well as the P-8A surveillance aircraft.

https://breakingdefense.com/2022/01/aussies-unveil-new-hypersonics-center-signal-distance-from-ukraine-crisis/
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: CameronD on 01/26/2022 09:25 pm
Here's a bit more about the bigger picture:

Quote
World class hypersonics precinct to supercharge Australian defence research

25 January 2022

The Morrison Government’s commitment to innovation and national security is at the forefront following the official opening of Defence’s state-of-the-art, purpose built Australian Hypersonics Research Precinct at Eagle Farm in Brisbane.

The Minister for Defence the Hon Peter Dutton MP today unveiled the $14 million Precinct which provides a location for Defence, industry, universities and international partners to advance our understanding and use of hypersonic technology through flight test vehicles.

“It’s a complex technological challenge to build vehicles capable of flying at five times the speed of sound, that skim the stratosphere, to target any location on the planet,” Minister Dutton said.

“The technology that is developed here will help us to better defend against the malign use of this technology and give us the ability to strike any potential adversaries from a distance and deter aggression against Australia’s national interests.”

“It enables Defence researchers to develop and characterise sovereign hypersonic technologies and generate ‘true’ hypersonic flight conditions at large scale in a classified laboratory.”

This Precinct represents just one element of the Morrison Government’s $3 billion dollar capability investment across Defence innovation, science and technology over the next decade.

https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/minister/peter-dutton/media-releases/world-class-hypersonics-precinct-supercharge-australian-defence

Backed by the Australian Missile Corporation:
Quote
In a big win for Queensland’s next-generation defence industry, Brisbane will be home to a $14 million hypersonics research centre. The Australian Missile Corporation welcomes this defence innovation hub right on our doorstep and is ready to answer the Federal Government’s call to establish a sovereign guided missiles enterprise.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: CameronD on 02/13/2022 09:50 pm
Perhaps not a newly-recognised problem, but a problem no less:

Quote
University of Central Florida researchers are part of a new $1 million project funded by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research to better understand and predict how and why raindrops are affected when they cross a hypersonic shock wave.

Hypersonic speeds are those at Mach 5 and higher, or five times greater than the speed of sound. The U.S. is currently working on developing hypersonic systems for defense and travel.

The new project is important because colliding with something as light as a single raindrop could cause a lot of damage at hypersonic speeds. The work will inform researchers as to whether or not the raindrop maintains its single droplet form or breaks up into tens of much smaller droplets.

https://www.ucf.edu/news/ucf-lands-new-project-to-study-effect-of-rain-on-hypersonic-travel/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877705813009326

Maybe we need that Star Trek Force Shield tech already?  :D
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: CameronD on 03/21/2022 10:55 pm
Here's a new one:

NASA Launches Rocket to Study Hypersonic Aircraft
Quote
BOLT II is scheduled to launch between 7-10pm, EDT, March 21.  Live coverage of the mission is scheduled to begin at 6:40 p.m. EDT on the Wallops YouTube site. Launch updates will be available on the Wallops Facebook and Twitter pages.

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-launches-rocket-to-study-hypersonic-aircraft
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 04/05/2022 08:14 pm
This apparently is part of the AUKUS agreement.

Hypersonic missiles: UK, US, and Australia to boost defence co-operation https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-61000416
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: su27k on 04/06/2022 02:34 am
Second Successful Flight for DARPA Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept (HAWC) (https://www.darpa.mil/news-events/2022-04-05)

Quote from: DARPA
DARPA and its U.S. Air Force partner recently completed a free flight test of the Lockheed Martin version of the Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept (HAWC). The vehicle, after release from a carrier aircraft, was boosted to its Aerojet Rocketdyne scramjet engine ignition envelope. From there, it quickly accelerated to and maintained cruise faster than Mach 5 (five times the speed of sound) for an extended period of time. The vehicle reached altitudes greater than 65,000 feet and flew for more than 300 nautical miles.

This is the second successful flight in DARPA’s HAWC program. Last September, a different vehicle configuration from another contractor team also reached hypersonic flight.

"This Lockheed Martin HAWC flight test successfully demonstrated a second design that will allow our warfighters to competitively select the right capabilities to dominate the battlefield,” said Andrew "Tippy" Knoedler, HAWC program manager in DARPA's Tactical Technology Office. “These achievements increase the level of technical maturity for transitioning HAWC to a service program of record.”

Air-breathing vehicles utilize air captured from the atmosphere to achieve sustained propulsion. The speed and maneuverability of such hypersonic cruise missiles allow both evasion of defenses and quick strikes. Their kinetic energy can effectively destroy targets even without high explosives.

“We are still analyzing flight test data, but are confident that we will provide the U.S. Air Force and Navy with excellent options to diversify the technology available for their future missions,” said Knoedler.
Title: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 04/08/2022 04:35 pm
Quote
Lockheed Martin’s version of the Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept missile demonstrator set a record for hypersonic flight under scramjet power in a just-revealed March flight test, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency confirmed.

The flight test likely achieved about 327 seconds of hypersonic flight under scramjet power, versus 200 seconds achieved by the Boeing X-51 Waverider in 2010, based on figures provided by DARPA.

https://www.airforcemag.com/new-hawc-hypersonic-missile-sets-record-for-endurance/

Quote
HUNTSVILLE, Ala., April 06, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- An advanced Aerojet Rocketdyne scramjet engine powered the successful flight test of the Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept (HAWC), in a joint effort with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and Lockheed Martin.
The goal of the DARPA / Lockheed Martin HAWC program is to develop and demonstrate critical technologies to enable an effective and affordable air-launched hypersonic cruise missile system.
“Aerojet Rocketdyne is well-positioned to support our nation’s hypersonic development and production,” said Eileen P. Drake, Aerojet Rocketdyne CEO and president. “By applying decades of advanced research and development, together with engineering know-how and innovative manufacturing and materials, our products optimize performance while dramatically reducing costs and development time.”
Through the use of additive manufacturing, Aerojet Rocketdyne is using 95% fewer parts in its scramjets than it used for the history-making scramjet engine that powered the United States Air Force X-51A Waverider to sustained hypersonic speed. Aerojet Rocketdyne has continued to improve the aerothermal performance, affordability, scalability and rapid manufacturability of scramjet engines to meet emerging needs for hypersonic missile and aircraft applications.

https://rocket.com/article/aerojet-rocketdyne’s-advanced-scramjet-engine-powers-successful-hypersonic-vehicle-flight
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 04/23/2022 02:16 pm
Quote
It is my duty to inform you that the hypersonic AGM-183 Air Launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW) is currently scheduled to die on September 30, 2023.

FY 2017-2023.

RIP.

(Unless Congress says otherwise.)

https://twitter.com/TheDEWLine/status/1517696371373056001
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 05/05/2022 04:16 pm
Quote
Aerojet Rocketdyne has been selected by
@LockheedMartin
 to power an advanced solid rocket motor booster for the second stage of
@DARPA
’s hypersonic weapon system, known as Operational Fires or OpFires. #Hypersonics #PoweringDefense

More https://okt.to/tu9Rs0

https://twitter.com/AerojetRdyne/status/1522235181205180416
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 05/07/2022 09:03 pm
Quote
Darkstar, the fictional secret hypersonic jet from the hotly anticipated new Top Gun: Maverick film, set to release May 27, might just be a whole lot more realistic than we previously thought. The chairman, president and CEO of Lockheed Martin Corporation, James Taiclet, has confirmed that the company's legendary Skunk Works advanced projects division worked with the producers of the movie and helped create the fictional design.
The War Zone had reached out to Skunk Works directly regarding this collaboration. They would not comment directly but subsequently directed us to a post that Taiclet made on LinkedIn following the world premiere preview showing of the movie at the U.S. Navy's Naval Air Station North Island's Lowry Theater in San Diego, California, this week. Taiclet said that members of the Skunk Works team had “partnered with Top Gun’s producers to bring cutting-edge, future forward technology to the big screen” before referencing “critical work in hypersonic flight.”

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/skunk-works-helped-create-the-darkstar-jet-for-top-gun-maverick
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: catdlr on 05/08/2022 04:53 am
Quote
Darkstar, the fictional secret hypersonic jet from the hotly anticipated new Top Gun: Maverick film, set to release May 27, might just be a whole lot more realistic than we previously thought. The chairman, president and CEO of Lockheed Martin Corporation, James Taiclet, has confirmed that the company's legendary Skunk Works advanced projects division worked with the producers of the movie and helped create the fictional design.
The War Zone had reached out to Skunk Works directly regarding this collaboration. They would not comment directly but subsequently directed us to a post that Taiclet made on LinkedIn following the world premiere preview showing of the movie at the U.S. Navy's Naval Air Station North Island's Lowry Theater in San Diego, California, this week. Taiclet said that members of the Skunk Works team had “partnered with Top Gun’s producers to bring cutting-edge, future forward technology to the big screen” before referencing “critical work in hypersonic flight.”

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/skunk-works-helped-create-the-darkstar-jet-for-top-gun-maverick

A follow-up video on the same topic:

https://youtu.be/-YeklWRS_rc
Title: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 05/10/2022 08:25 am
Quote
WASHINGTON — The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, in a bid to mature its scramjet-powered hypersonic weapon program, is seeking $60 million in its fiscal 2023 budget for the next phase of the Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapons Concept.
The new-start program, dubbed MoHAWC, is a successor to HAWC, developed jointly with the Air Force using Raytheon and Lockheed Martin as prime contractors. Both companies conducted successful test flights of their vehicles, with Raytheon’s flying in September and Lockheed’s in March. The HAWC vehicles are powered by scramjet engines designed to offer better, more efficient performance at hypersonic speeds. Northrop Grumman built the propulsion system for Raytheon’s HAWC vehicle and Aerojet provided Lockheed’s.

https://www.defensenews.com/battlefield-tech/2022/05/09/darpa-maturing-scramjet-powered-hypersonic-weapon-concept-through-follow-on-program/
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: RON_P on 05/10/2022 05:00 pm
Quote
WASHINGTON — The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, in a bid to mature its scramjet-powered hypersonic weapon program, is seeking $60 million in its fiscal 2023 budget for the next phase of the Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapons Concept.
The new-start program, dubbed MoHAWC, is a successor to HAWC, developed jointly with the Air Force using Raytheon and Lockheed Martin as prime contractors. Both companies conducted successful test flights of their vehicles, with Raytheon’s flying in September and Lockheed’s in March. The HAWC vehicles are powered by scramjet engines designed to offer better, more efficient performance at hypersonic speeds. Northrop Grumman built the propulsion system for Raytheon’s HAWC vehicle and Aerojet provided Lockheed’s.

https://www.defensenews.com/battlefield-tech/2022/05/09/darpa-maturing-scramjet-powered-hypersonic-weapon-concept-through-follow-on-program/
So MoHAWC is a bridge between DARPA HAWC and US air force HACM ( operational weapon) .
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: CameronD on 05/26/2022 12:57 am
Quote
In #hypersonics, when every second counts, additive manufacturing (3D printing) can shorten manufacturing timelines, make products more affordable and enable new approaches to design.

Learn more about Aerojet Rocketdyne’s advancements in Additive Manufacturing ➡ rocket.com/3D
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 06/05/2022 02:27 pm
Rocket Sled Traveling At 7,200 km/h (4,363 mph) Successfully Stopped During Hypersonic Test At Holloman

Quote
The test marked the fastest recovery of a monorail sled in over 30 years, and the first time a planned reusable sled was ever recovered at those speeds. The test paves the way for more hypersonic weapons testing.

https://theaviationist.com/2022/06/04/rocket-sled-traveling-at-7200-kmh-stopped/
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 06/30/2022 09:06 am
Quote
A flight test of a hypersonic missile system in Hawaii ended in failure due to a problem that took place after ignition, the Department of Defense said, delivering a fresh blow to a program that has suffered stumbles.

It didn’t provide further details of what took place in the Wednesday test, but said in a statement sent by email “the Department remains confident that it is on track to field offensive and defensive hypersonic capabilities on target dates beginning in the early 2020s.”

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-06-30/us-hypersonic-missile-fails-in-test-in-fresh-setback-for-program
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 07/14/2022 10:29 am
Air Force completes another successful hypersonic test

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - The Air Force conducted another successful hypersonic test off the Southern California coast on July 12, 2022. The Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon Booster Test Flight-3 was the 12th flight for the program and third release demonstration. The AGM-183A weapon system reached hypersonic speeds and primary and secondary objectives were met.

"This was another important milestone for the Air Force's first air-launched hypersonic weapon.  The test successfully demonstrated booster performance expanding the operational envelope.  We have now completed our booster test series and are ready to move forward to all-up-round testing later this year.  Congratulations to the entire ARRW team, your dedication and expertise are what got us here," said Maj. Gen. Heath Collins, Program Executive Officer, Armament Directorate.

ARRW is designed to provide the ability to destroy high-value, time-sensitive targets. It will also expand precision-strike weapon systems' capabilities by enabling rapid response strikes against heavily defended land targets.

https://www.eglin.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3091814/air-force-completes-another-successful-hypersonic-test/

Operational Fires Program Successfully Completes First Flight Test

DARPA’s Operational Fires (OpFires) program has successfully executed its first flight test at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. The OpFires system achieved all test objectives, including first ever use of a U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) logistics truck as a medium-range missile launcher, missile canister egress, stable flight capture, and use of U.S. Army inventory artillery fire control systems to initiate the test mission. Lockheed Martin built the system, which includes a Northrup Grumman rocket motor, and conducted the test.

The test demonstrated integrated technology maturation of key enabling components including the first stage rocket motor, missile canister, and missile round pallet (MRP). The MRP is designed for use with the load handling system available on USMC and Army logistics vehicles, eliminating the need for a bespoke OpFires transporter erector launcher (TEL).

“This is a promising step toward a TEL on-demand capability for accurately firing medium-range missiles from highly agile, readily available logistics trucks that are already in both the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps inventory,” said Lt. Col. Joshua Stults, the DARPA program manager for OpFires. “Our successful agile hardware development approach prioritizes full-scale flight testing that will inform further design maturation this year.”

https://youtu.be/DCL6G9A1fmc

The primary goal of OpFires is the development and demonstration of a ground-launched two-stage propulsive system capable of employing hypersonic (greater than five times the speed of sound) payloads from ubiquitous U.S. military trucks (the Palletized Load System family of vehicles) that can penetrate modern air defenses and precisely strike time-critical targets. Compatibility with existing command and control, vehicles, logistics infrastructure, and operating environments ensures that OpFires is highly mobile and rapidly deployable.

“The OpFires program is a great example of how DARPA, in partnership with industry, is helping the Department of Defense facilitate rapid development and testing of advanced hypersonic technologies to accelerate the delivery of transformational warfighting capabilities,” said Michael White, principal director for hypersonics in the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering.

The OpFires program will complete an integrated system critical design review in 2022.

https://www.darpa.mil/news-events/2022-07-13a
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 07/19/2022 04:55 pm
Third Test Flight for DARPA’s HAWC Yields New Performance Data

DARPA’s Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept (HAWC), a missile program conducted in partnership with the U.S. Air Force, completed another successful free flight in early July. This is the second demonstration vehicle built by Raytheon Technologies to meet test objectives. The first Raytheon flight was in September 2021. It was followed by success with a different contractor’s vehicle configuration this past spring.

This second flight of Raytheon’s HAWC design leveraged data collected during the 2021 flight. After release from an aircraft, the first stage boosted the vehicle to the expected scramjet ignition envelope. From there the missile’s Northrop Grumman scramjet engine fired up and propelled the cruiser to speeds greater than Mach 5 (five times the speed of sound) for more than 300 nautical miles and reaching altitudes higher than 60,000 feet.

“This most recent test allowed exploration of more of the flight and scramjet engine operating envelopes,” Andrew "Tippy" Knoedler, HAWC program manager in DARPA's Tactical Technology Office. "DARPA demonstrations are always about learning, whether it’s in the interest of feasibility or practicality, and this time we certainly got new information that will further improve performance.”

Air-breathing vehicles use air captured from the atmosphere to achieve sustained propulsion. The speed and maneuverability of such hypersonic cruise missiles allow both evasion of defenses and quick strikes.

“The Navy and Air Force will have access to the data we’ve collected as they make development decisions for future high-speed weapons,” said Knoedler.

The HAWC flight test data will help validate affordable system designs and manufacturing approaches that will field air-breathing hypersonic missiles to warfighters in the near future.

https://www.darpa.mil/news-events/2022-07-18
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 07/29/2022 01:54 pm
Using RDE propulsion.

Quote
Last week, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) quietly unveiled a new high-speed missile program called Gambit. The program is meant to leverage a novel method of propulsion that could have far-reaching implications not just in terms of weapons development, but for high-speed aircraft and even in how the Navy’s warships are powered.

This propulsion system, known as a rotation detonation engine (RDE), has the potential to be lighter than existing jet engines while offering a significant boost in power output, range, and fuel efficiency.

The Gambit missile is just one of a number of programs placing a renewed focus on RDE technology, though for the most part, these systems have managed to fly under the media’s radar. That is, except for Aviation Week & Space Technology Defense Editor Steve Trimble, who has covered these recent developments at length. Trimble was kind enough to discuss that work with me as I sought to better understand just how big a deal this technology could be.

https://www.sandboxx.us/blog/darpas-new-missile-hints-at-truly-game-changing-technology/
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 09/23/2022 03:42 pm
US Air Force Selects Raytheon Missiles &amp; Defense, Northrop Grumman to Deliver First Hypersonic Air-Breathing Missile

TUCSON, Ariz. – Sept. 23, 2022 – Raytheon Missiles &amp; Defense, a Raytheon Technologies (NYSE: RTX) business, in partnership with Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC), has been selected to develop the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HACM) for the U.S. Air Force (USAF). HACM is a first-of-its-kind weapon developed in conjunction with the Southern Cross Integrated Flight Research Experiment (SCIFiRE), a U.S. and Australia project arrangement.

Under this contract, the Raytheon Missiles &amp; Defense and Northrop Grumman team will deliver operationally ready missiles to the USAF.

“Raytheon Missiles &amp; Defense continues to be at the forefront of hypersonic weapon and air-breathing technology development,” said Wes Kremer, president of Raytheon Missiles &amp; Defense. “With advanced threats emerging around the globe, the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile will provide our warfighters a much-needed capability.”

The Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile is an air-breathing, scramjet powered munition. Scramjet engines use high vehicle speed to forcibly compress incoming air before combustion, which enables sustained flight at hypersonic speeds – Mach 5 or greater. By traveling at these speeds, hypersonic weapons, like HACM, are able to reach their targets more quickly than similar traditional missiles, allowing them to potentially evade defensive systems.

“The Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile creates a new class of strategically important weapons for the U.S. military,” said Mary Petryszyn, corporate vice president and president, Northrop Grumman Defense Systems. “Our scramjet propulsion technology is ushering in a new era for faster, more survivable and highly capable weapons.”

Raytheon Technologies and Northrop Grumman have been working together since 2019 to develop, produce and integrate Northrop Grumman's scramjet engines onto Raytheon's air-breathing hypersonic weapons. Their combined efforts enable both companies to produce air-breathing hypersonic weapons, the next generation of tactical missile systems.

About Raytheon Technologies

Raytheon Technologies Corporation is an aerospace and defense company that provides advanced systems and services for commercial, military and government customers worldwide. With four industry-leading businesses  Collins Aerospace, Pratt &amp; Whitney, Raytheon Intelligence &amp; Space and Raytheon Missiles &amp; Defense  the company delivers solutions that push the boundaries in avionics, cybersecurity, directed energy, electric propulsion, hypersonics, and quantum physics. The company, formed in 2020 through the combination of Raytheon Company and the United Technologies Corporation aerospace businesses, is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts.

About Northrop Grumman

Northrop Grumman is a technology company, focused on global security and human discovery. Our pioneering solutions equip our customers with capabilities they need to connect, advance and protect the U.S. and its allies. Driven by a shared purpose to solve our customers’ toughest problems, our 90,000 employees define possible every day.

https://news.northropgrumman.com/news/releases/us-air-force-selects-raytheon-missiles-defense-northrop-grumman-to-deliver-first-hypersonic-air-breathing-missile
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 11/07/2022 05:07 pm
MD-22 hypersonic demonstrator:

https://twitter.com/jesusfroman/status/1589166708203618304
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 11/08/2022 09:06 pm
MD-22 hypersonic demonstrator:

https://twitter.com/jesusfroman/status/1589166708203618304

Has anyone seen this thing in the air?

In actual motion?
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 11/11/2022 08:49 am
Quote
China has unveiled air-launched versions of its ship-based hypersonic missile and a standoff cruise missile at the Zhuhai Airshow, going on this week in the southern Guangdong province near Taiwan.
A pair of air-launched hypersonic missiles carried under the wings of a Xi’an H-6K bomber were at the show, which opened Tuesday and runs through Nov. 13.

https://www.defensenews.com/battlefield-tech/2022/11/10/china-shows-off-air-launched-hypersonic-missile-at-airshow-near-taiwan/
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Asteroza on 11/23/2022 03:49 am
So there's been a series of articles about a recent kerosene based mach 9 hypersonic engine from china making the rounds.

starting here
https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/china-worlds-first-kerosene-powered-engine (https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/china-worlds-first-kerosene-powered-engine)

which came from here
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3200105/chinese-team-says-hypersonic-engine-can-hit-mach-9-low-cost-jet-fuel (https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3200105/chinese-team-says-hypersonic-engine-can-hit-mach-9-low-cost-jet-fuel)

which sounds like continued work on the oblique detonation wave research previously mentioned in this thread.

Since everybody seems to be unwilling to link to the actual paper, a little digging seems to suggest this is the paper, as the aforementioned articles talk about a RP-3 (equivalent to Jet-A fuel) fueled detonation engine

HAN X,ZHANG W S,ZHANG Z J,et al. Experimental study on RP3 aviation kerosene oblique detonation engine[J]. Journal of Experiments in Fluid Mechanics, 2022,36(X):1-8. doi: 10.11729/syltlx20220090

http://www.syltlx.com/en/article/doi/10.11729/syltlx20220090 (http://www.syltlx.com/en/article/doi/10.11729/syltlx20220090)


Paper's focus seems to describe a bump near the inlet lip to initiate combustion, as the combustor zone itself is insufficient to autoignite kerosene in time.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 11/28/2022 07:48 pm
HERMEUS COMPLETES HYPERSONIC MILESTONE WITH ENGINE TESTS

Quote
Transition from turbojet to ramjet demonstrated repeatedly, de-risking technology central to hypersonic aircraft

Quote
Chimera is a turbine-based combined cycle engine (TBCC) – which basically means it’s a hybrid between a turbojet and a ramjet. The ability to switch between these two modes allows Hermeus’ first aircraft, Quarterhorse, to take off from a regular runway and then accelerate up to high-Mach speeds.

The cost and speed at which the Hermeus team achieved this milestone is notable. Hermeus designed, built, and tested Chimera in 21 months for $18 million.

https://www.hermeus.com/press-release-tbcc-milestone
Title: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 12/13/2022 09:15 am
Air Force conducts first ARRW operational prototype missile test

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  A B-52H Stratofortress successfully released the first All-Up-Round AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon off the Southern California coast, Dec. 9.

This test was the first launch of a full prototype operational missile.  Previous test events focused on proving the booster performance.  Following the ARRW’s separation from the aircraft, it reached hypersonic speeds greater than five times the speed of sound, completed its flight path and detonated in the terminal area. Indications show that all objectives were met.

“The ARRW team successfully designed and tested an air-launched hypersonic missile in five years,” said Brig. Gen. Jason Bartolomei, Armament Directorate Program Executive Officer.  “I am immensely proud of the tenacity and dedication this team has shown to provide a vital capability to our warfighter.”

The 412th Test Wing at Edwards AFB, California, executed the ARRW test flight.

ARRW is designed to enable the U.S. to hold fixed, high-value, time-sensitive targets at risk in contested environments.

https://www.eglin.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3240613/air-force-conducts-first-arrw-operational-prototype-missile-test/

https://youtu.be/XAGcQJs6OqQ
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 12/21/2022 01:06 pm
Quote
Hermeus has selected the Pratt &amp; Whitney F100 turbofan to integrate into its larger hypersonic engine. Securing an off-the-shelf turbine engine will save Hermeus billions of dollars in research and development costs and years of schedule.

Pratt &amp; Whitney’s F100 turbofan, which is used in the F-15 and F-16 aircraft, will act as the turbine portion of Hermeus’ turbine-based combined cycle engine named Chimera II.

https://www.hermeus.com/press-release-f100-engine
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: rock79022 on 02/01/2023 02:15 pm
any thoughts on that hypersonics notre dame mode transition video?  does this actually accomplish what they claim?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dykzl9Kaf4

any hypersonics experts here?
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 03/28/2023 10:24 am
Quote
The Air Force recently conducted a second all-up-round test for its new hypersonic Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW), and though a service press release today said the prototype missile “met several of the objectives” of the test flight, it is unclear whether the test was fully successful.

https://breakingdefense.com/2023/03/air-force-mum-on-whether-latest-arrw-hypersonic-test-was-successful/
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Asteroza on 03/29/2023 12:24 am
Quote
The Air Force recently conducted a second all-up-round test for its new hypersonic Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW), and though a service press release today said the prototype missile “met several of the objectives” of the test flight, it is unclear whether the test was fully successful.

https://breakingdefense.com/2023/03/air-force-mum-on-whether-latest-arrw-hypersonic-test-was-successful/

I guess the booster didn't fail, this time...
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 03/29/2023 09:15 am
Quote
The Air Force recently conducted a second all-up-round test for its new hypersonic Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW), and though a service press release today said the prototype missile “met several of the objectives” of the test flight, it is unclear whether the test was fully successful.

https://breakingdefense.com/2023/03/air-force-mum-on-whether-latest-arrw-hypersonic-test-was-successful/

I guess the booster didn't fail, this time...
Well it doesn’t actually declare success which you might have expected.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 03/29/2023 08:59 pm
any thoughts on that hypersonics notre dame mode transition video?  does this actually accomplish what they claim?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dykzl9Kaf4

any hypersonics experts here?
Welcome to the site.

I'm no hypersonics expert, but they're right, transition from jet to ramet mode is the key element that Hermeous would have to demonstrate and which their backers would be expecting them to demonstrate.

Wheather or not they have demonstrated this is not so clear. :(

AFAIK no jet engine can operate above about M3. Those that can don't use air bleed cooling (SOP for all engines since at least the mid 60's, if not earlier).  The engine that powers the SR71 didn't but that was because it dates from the early 50's.

So they are making some pretty big claims.

They also claimed to be running with a pre-cooler. By "insulating " the engine inlet from the free stream conditions they could (in theory) use any jet engine as their core (including ones that use air bleed, because the air is pre-cooled).

But remember hypersonic flight is also described as continuous re-entry.  The engine is half the story.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Vahe231991 on 03/30/2023 03:29 am
Quote
The Air Force recently conducted a second all-up-round test for its new hypersonic Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW), and though a service press release today said the prototype missile “met several of the objectives” of the test flight, it is unclear whether the test was fully successful.

https://breakingdefense.com/2023/03/air-force-mum-on-whether-latest-arrw-hypersonic-test-was-successful/

I guess the booster didn't fail, this time...
Well it doesn’t actually declare success which you might have expected.
The USAF just declared the latest test of the AGM-183 ARRW a failure, but didn't specifically say why:
https://theaviationgeekclub.com/agm-183a-arrw-falls-short-in-second-test-but-the-usaf-isnt-saying-what-went-wrong-with-the-lockheed-martin-built-hypersonic-missile/
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 03/30/2023 06:59 am
Quote
The Air Force recently conducted a second all-up-round test for its new hypersonic Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW), and though a service press release today said the prototype missile “met several of the objectives” of the test flight, it is unclear whether the test was fully successful.

https://breakingdefense.com/2023/03/air-force-mum-on-whether-latest-arrw-hypersonic-test-was-successful/

I guess the booster didn't fail, this time...
Well it doesn’t actually declare success which you might have expected.
The USAF just declared the latest test of the AGM-183 ARRW a failure, but didn't specifically say why:
https://theaviationgeekclub.com/agm-183a-arrw-falls-short-in-second-test-but-the-usaf-isnt-saying-what-went-wrong-with-the-lockheed-martin-built-hypersonic-missile/
And now cancelled by the USAF.

https://breakingdefense.com/2023/03/air-force-to-ditch-troubled-arrw-hypersonic-missile/
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 03/30/2023 07:00 am
The Navy at least is making progress.

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/navy-air-launched-hypersonic-anti-ship-cruise-missile-makes-big-move-forward
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 03/31/2023 06:39 am
The Navy at least is making progress.

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/navy-air-launched-hypersonic-anti-ship-cruise-missile-makes-big-move-forward
Or has a better PR team?
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: RON_P on 03/31/2023 04:27 pm
The Navy at least is making progress.

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/navy-air-launched-hypersonic-anti-ship-cruise-missile-makes-big-move-forward
Or has a better PR team?
No they just started their own version of HACM ( scramjet powered missile ) totally different from ARRW  .
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 04/02/2023 01:02 pm
The Navy at least is making progress.

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/navy-air-launched-hypersonic-anti-ship-cruise-missile-makes-big-move-forward
Or has a better PR team?
No they just started their own version of HACM ( scramjet powered missile ) totally different from ARRW  .
So 2024 before PDR is done and goal of IOC by 2029?

It wasn't that long ago that the SCramjet cultists community realised that you needed finite rate chemistry to properly model the combustion of a non-H2 fueled system.

One of the (supposed) benefits of SCramjets is that the have better fuel economy than ramjets at higher mach numbers.  Of course they could just go with a conventional ramjet instead. Those drove USN SAM's for decades from the 1950's onwards.

I guess it depends if the USN wants something that works or if they want it to be innovative as well.  :(

Time will tell how far advanced they actually are.

TBH I'm doubtful the Russian anti-ship vehicle is a SCramjet. But if it really is M5 at seal level then the bigger issues is the structure.

The skin friction heating at wave height will be phenomenal
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: redneck on 04/03/2023 12:06 am
The Navy at least is making progress.

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/navy-air-launched-hypersonic-anti-ship-cruise-missile-makes-big-move-forward
Or has a better PR team?
No they just started their own version of HACM ( scramjet powered missile ) totally different from ARRW  .
So 2024 before PDR is done and goal of IOC by 2029?

It wasn't that long ago that the SCramjet cultists community realised that you needed finite rate chemistry to properly model the combustion of a non-H2 fueled system.

One of the (supposed) benefits of SCramjets is that the have better fuel economy than ramjets at higher mach numbers.  Of course they could just go with a conventional ramjet instead. Those drove USN SAM's for decades from the 1950's onwards.

I guess it depends if the USN wants something that works or if they want it to be innovative as well.  :(

Time will tell how far advanced they actually are.

TBH I'm doubtful the Russian anti-ship vehicle is a SCramjet. But if it really is M5 at seal level then the bigger issues is the structure.

The skin friction heating at wave height will be phenomenal

There's no R in scamjet.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: john smith 19 on 04/03/2023 06:42 am

There's no R in scamjet.
True.

However for legal reasons I think I need to point out that the question would be wheather the promoters of it are knowingly asking for money for something they don't expect will work.

What I like to think of as the Elizabether Holmes/Tharanos defense.

Of course from 2004 they can now claim that they can produce thrust exceeding drag when it starts up.

But  given the length of time involved and more importantly the amount of  taxpayers cash invested you'd think they'd have something more to show by now, beyond a long string of test vehicles, some of which worked, some of which didn't in a fairly hit-and-miss list.  :(
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 06/02/2023 10:55 am
Quote
Additionally, Kratos is developing multiple hypersonic vehicles, including an internally funded system called Erinyes and a newly-announced platform DeMarco says the company calls “Dark Fury”.

https://www.flightglobal.com/military-uavs/kratos-confident-of-leadership-position-in-developing-autonomous-jet-aircraft/153168.article
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Zed_Noir on 06/02/2023 11:46 am
.....
TBH I'm doubtful the Russian anti-ship vehicle is a SCramjet. But if it really is M5 at seal level then the bigger issues is the structure.
.....

Never understand what advantages there is for low altitude missiles travelling at M5+.

Since tracking it will be relatively easy from the missile's plasma trail.

Also the plasma generated by the missile will make target acquisition difficult and timely.

Plus it needs a big and/or high speed aircraft to launch a hypersonic missile in the air.

As for the Russian hypersonic missile for use in an anti-shipping role. That only make sense if there is a nuke aboard for taking out an aircraft carrier, IMO.
Title: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 06/02/2023 08:07 pm
Quote
Eco-friendly and hypersonic—five times the speed of sound—sound like contradictions, but a Swiss aerospace startup took the first step towards combining the two, following a test flight of a prototype drone.

“The successful flight with hydrogen afterburners demonstrates the potential for high-performance propulsion systems that are highly efficient and reduce carbon emissions,” said Destinus CEO Mikhail Kokorich, following the event.

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/hypersonic-concept-just-flew-world-140508604.html
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Vahe231991 on 06/11/2023 02:57 am
Iran recently unveiled its first hypersonic missile, called Fattah (meaning "victory" in Arabic). Designed for operational use by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, it has a top speed of Mach 13 to 15 and therefore can maneuver in and out of the atmosphere while flying fast enough to evade interception by Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system. IRGC officials claim that the Fattah utilizes artificial intelligence, although whether Iran is capable of mustering AI technology to the same extent as the US or China is an open question.

Links:
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/6/6/fattah-iran-unveils-its-first-hypersonic-missile
https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2022/11/10/2801948/irgc-develops-hypersonic-ballistic-missile-beating-advanced-air-defense-systems
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: CameronD on 07/06/2023 12:10 am
I saw this a couple of weeks back but wasn't sure whether to post or not.  I've always liked the idea of TBCC engines but maybe this one will actually work?

GE recently announced they are working on a new hypersonic drive concept that combines rotating detonation engine (RDE) combustors with a dual-mode ramjet/scramjet, to offer "a more efficient approach to a turbine-based combined cycle propulsion system than traditional turbine engines". 

https://aviationweek.com/shownews/paris-air-show/ge-reveals-new-hypersonic-propulsion-effort
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Asteroza on 07/06/2023 02:56 am
I saw this a couple of weeks back but wasn't sure whether to post or not.  I've always liked the idea of TBCC engines but maybe this one will actually work?

GE recently announced they are working on a new hypersonic drive concept that combines rotating detonation engine (RDE) combustors with a dual-mode ramjet/scramjet, to offer "a more efficient approach to a turbine-based combined cycle propulsion system than traditional turbine engines". 

https://aviationweek.com/shownews/paris-air-show/ge-reveals-new-hypersonic-propulsion-effort

something odd about the pictured engine, which is labeled Pratt and Whitney, rather than GE...

it looks like a pure RDE ramjet, but there's some sort of "turbine" barrel aft of the RDE combustor that appears to drive a motor/generator?
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: edzieba on 07/06/2023 10:34 am
I saw this a couple of weeks back but wasn't sure whether to post or not.  I've always liked the idea of TBCC engines but maybe this one will actually work?

GE recently announced they are working on a new hypersonic drive concept that combines rotating detonation engine (RDE) combustors with a dual-mode ramjet/scramjet, to offer "a more efficient approach to a turbine-based combined cycle propulsion system than traditional turbine engines". 

https://aviationweek.com/shownews/paris-air-show/ge-reveals-new-hypersonic-propulsion-effort

something odd about the pictured engine, which is labeled Pratt and Whitney, rather than GE...

it looks like a pure RDE ramjet, but there's some sort of "turbine" barrel aft of the RDE combustor that appears to drive a motor/generator?
That's just a motor actuating a screw to drive that aft centre body in and out. Probably to change the expansion ratio of the RDE annular nozzle.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: CameronD on 07/06/2023 11:06 pm
I saw this a couple of weeks back but wasn't sure whether to post or not.  I've always liked the idea of TBCC engines but maybe this one will actually work?

GE recently announced they are working on a new hypersonic drive concept that combines rotating detonation engine (RDE) combustors with a dual-mode ramjet/scramjet, to offer "a more efficient approach to a turbine-based combined cycle propulsion system than traditional turbine engines". 

https://aviationweek.com/shownews/paris-air-show/ge-reveals-new-hypersonic-propulsion-effort

something odd about the pictured engine, which is labeled Pratt and Whitney, rather than GE...

it looks like a pure RDE ramjet, but there's some sort of "turbine" barrel aft of the RDE combustor that appears to drive a motor/generator?
That's just a motor actuating a screw to drive that aft centre body in and out. Probably to change the expansion ratio of the RDE annular nozzle.

So it sounds like it's (a) P&W not GE and (b) RDE not TBCC either!.. :(

I know marketing people are good at spin, but the amount of "spin" on this concept would power it around the world and back.
 
Title: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 07/14/2023 10:06 am
Quote
Aerojet Rocketdyne has reached a significant milestone in the development of the Zeus 1, an advanced stage 1 Large Solid Rocket Motor (LSRM) designed for Kratos' ambitious Zeus program. Following a successful static-fire test, the motor not only met but exceeded performance expectations, cementing its position as a game-changer in the field of hypersonic applications.

https://www.spacedaily.com/m/reports/Aerojet_Rocketdyne_unveils_cutting_edge_solid_rocket_motor_for_Kratos_Zeus_Program_999.html

Edited to add the Kratos press release:

https://ir.kratosdefense.com/news-releases/news-release-details/kratos-successfully-static-test-fires-zeus-1-solid-propellant
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Asteroza on 07/16/2023 10:10 pm
Quote
Aerojet Rocketdyne has reached a significant milestone in the development of the Zeus 1, an advanced stage 1 Large Solid Rocket Motor (LSRM) designed for Kratos' ambitious Zeus program. Following a successful static-fire test, the motor not only met but exceeded performance expectations, cementing its position as a game-changer in the field of hypersonic applications.

https://www.spacedaily.com/m/reports/Aerojet_Rocketdyne_unveils_cutting_edge_solid_rocket_motor_for_Kratos_Zeus_Program_999.html

Edited to add the Kratos press release:

https://ir.kratosdefense.com/news-releases/news-release-details/kratos-successfully-static-test-fires-zeus-1-solid-propellant


Uh, why all the hype over an improved performance SRM? If you need a go-fast setup just resurrect the Sprint ABM motor...
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Zed_Noir on 07/17/2023 05:16 am
<snip>
Uh, why all the hype over an improved performance SRM? If you need a go-fast setup just resurrect the Sprint ABM motor...
It isn't that easy to resurrect the Sprint ABM missile system. Which IIRC was ejected with cold gas from a custom launch silo before the missile's first stage was ignited in flight. Which isn't practical for a portable/mobile missile system.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Vahe231991 on 07/21/2023 12:41 am
I know that rumors of a hypersonic spyplane with which the Pentagon codename Aurora (now known to have the Pentagon budget codename for B-2 production funding in the 1980s) was associated surfaced a few years after TAV/AAV design studies that paved the way for the NASP program were carried out in 1985, the same year the Pentagon released the P-1 budget document in which the name Aurora was mentioned. However, assuming that a number of company documents pertaining to scramjet, RBCC, and TBCC engine designs from Pratt & Whitney, General Electric, Rocketdyne, and a few other companies for NASP design studies have been (or could soon be) declassified, are there any known projects for scramjet, RBCC, and TBCC engines intended for the X-30 and NASP? To be honest, when the November 1988 Popular Science magazine article titled "Revealed! Mach 5 spy plane" was published, most company design studies for propulsion systems for the X-30/NASP or any other 1980s American air-breathing aircraft projects with speeds in the Mach 4 to 7 range were kept hidden under the banner of confidentiality, and whether or not scramjet designs being proposed for the X-30/NASP were also being studied for a Mach 5 to 6 military aircraft remained a question mark. As a matter of fact, a 1993 issue of the Aerospace Daily reported that there was a secret 1980s Mach 4-5 aircraft project which reportedly was the size of the B-1B Lancer and canceled in 1986 without leaving the design phase due to the technological complexity of air-breathing hypersonic engine technology, raising questions about whether or not this would-be hypersonic aircraft design would have used the kind of scramjet technology that the NASP was to use.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 08/12/2023 10:24 am
Interview with some engineers at LM working on hypersonic projects:

https://youtu.be/6D9B-dYASDc
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 08/23/2023 04:41 pm
Quote
The Air Force on Saturday conducted its latest test of a prototype hypersonic AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon, collecting data it hopes will help it develop future weapons that can travel at greater than Mach 5.
The Air Force said in a statement that a B-52H Stratofortress released a full operational prototype ARRW,

Quote
The service said it would not discuss specific objectives of the Aug. 19 test, and did not say whether it considered the test a success. But the Air Force said it “gained valuable new insights into the capabilities” of ARRW, and that the data would help it advance programs such as ARRW and the service’s other major hypersonic weapon program, the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile.

https://www.c4isrnet.com/battlefield-tech/space/2023/08/21/us-air-force-fires-arrw-hypersonic-in-first-test-since-march-failure/
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 09/06/2023 11:02 pm
As it says I imagine this will be a test launch of the LRHW.

Quote
Airspace and maritime navigation warnings released to pilots and mariners suggest the US military might launch a hypersonic missile this week on a test flight from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

This test could be one of the final milestones before the US Army fields the nation's first ground-based hypersonic weapon, which is more maneuverable and more difficult for an enemy to track and destroy than a conventional ballistic missile. Russia has used hypersonic missiles in combat against Ukraine, and US defense officials have labeled China as the world's leader in emerging hypersonic missile technology.

https://arstechnica.com/security/2023/09/heres-what-we-know-about-a-mysterious-launch-from-florida-this-week/
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 09/07/2023 06:22 am
The test which was for the Dark Eagle missile has now been cancelled.

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/test-of-dark-eagle-hypersonic-missile-at-cape-canaveral-aborted
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Asteroza on 09/14/2023 10:57 pm
UCF working on some preliminary adaptive structure engine work, aka the morphing hypersonic engine.

https://www.ucf.edu/news/new-dod-funded-project-will-develop-morphing-hypersonic-engine/ (https://www.ucf.edu/news/new-dod-funded-project-will-develop-morphing-hypersonic-engine/)
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Vahe231991 on 09/22/2023 04:11 pm
Quote
Polaris Spaceplanes wraps up MIRA-Light prototype flight tests
by Josh Dinner

Polaris Spaceplanes, a German aerospace company, has successfully completed a 15-flight test campaign of its MIRA-Light prototype vehicle.

The test-flights took place over the course of three days, between Aug. 22 and Sep. 8, and were meant to demonstrate the vehicle's aerodynamics and flight control systems in preparation for a larger-scale spaceplane prototype the company plans to equip with a linear aerospike rocket engine.

MIRA-Light measures just 8.2 feet (2.5 meters) long, and flies using four electric fans. For 10 of MIRA-Light’s 15 flights, the mini-spaceplane was equipped with a mock aerospike engine to simulate its impact on vehicle performance. In total, the prototype accumulated about 40 total minutes of flight time, according to a report from European Spaceflight.

https://www.space.com/polaris-spaceplanes-mira-light-flight-test-campaign-complete [September 19, 2023]

Although the design layout of the proposed Polaris Spaceplanes Aurora is reminiscent of later depictions of the supposed hypersonic spyplane with which the codename Aurora was erroneously associated in having a isosceles triangular platform, it differs in having upward-pointing wingtips like those of the supposed carrier aircraft component for the non-existent Blackstar TSTO system.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 11/07/2023 10:36 am
Possibly talking about the so called “SR-72”.

https://theaviationist.com/2023/11/04/skunk-works-usaf-isr-platform/?fbclid=IwAR2-AUFnLhXEypayiXW-dYZ4Qn5KeDuhBghiIpUkuWe7CW6h-zqpO8MZHdA
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: RON_P on 11/09/2023 11:07 pm
Rocket Lab to launch hypersonic test vehicle for the Defense Innovation Unit
https://spacenews.com/rocket-lab-to-launch-hypersonic-test-vehicle-for-the-defense-innovation-unit/
Quote
WASHINGTON — Rocket Lab announced a new mission for its suborbital launch vehicle — a 3D-printed hypersonic drone built by Australia’s Hypersonix for the U.S. Defense Department.

The mission, projected for early 2025, is funded by DoD’s Defense Innovation Unit. DIU, based in Silicon Valley, works with  commercial space companies to help fill military technology needs. The suborbital mission awarded to Rocket Lab is part of DIU’s HyCat project, short for hypersonic and high-cadence testing capabilities.

“Commercial companies are forging ahead towards reusable and low-cost test vehicles,” DIU said. China and Russia are actively developing hypersonic weapons technology and the Pentagon is trying to stay ahead. DoD today has limited options to test hypersonic missiles on land and sea-based test ranges, said DIU, and using commercial suborbital launch vehicles should help DoD mature hypersonics technology.


Rocket Lab’s suborbital vehicle
Hypersonic missiles can travel at more than five times the speed of sound and maneuver during flight. Mach 1 is the speed of sound, which is about 767 miles per hour at sea level.

Rocket Lab specializes in orbital missions but has positioned itself to meet the Pentagon’s demand for suborbital testing of hypersonic vehicles. It designed a suborbital version of its small Electron rocket called HASTE, short for Hypersonic Accelerator Suborbital Test Electron.

The first HASTE mission for the defense contractor Leidos launched in June from Rocket Lab’s Launch Complex 2 in Wallops Island, Virginia.  Rocket Lab said Leidos has since booked four more HASTE missions to launch in 2024 and 2025.

In a Nov. 8 news release, Rocket Lab said DIU’s mission is the seventh on its suborbital launch manifest.

DIU’s payload will be scramjet-powered hypersonic vehicle made by the Australian company Hypersonix. The 660-pound drone is about 9.8-foot-long and  has a 3D-printed airframe.

“The HyCat mission will demonstrate HASTE’s ‘direct inject’ capability by deploying the Hypersonix payload during ascent, while still within Earth’s atmosphere,” said Rocket Lab.

DIU issued its first HyCat solicitation in September 2022. In addition to Hypersonix and Rocket Lab, it also selected Fenix Space, a California-based startup developing a reusable tow-launch platform.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Asteroza on 12/14/2023 09:22 pm
GE ran a dual mode ramjet (DMRJ) using a rotating detonation wave (RDE) combustor?

https://www.flightglobal.com/engines/ge-aerospace-achieves-breakthrough-in-hypersonic-engine-development/156198.article (https://www.flightglobal.com/engines/ge-aerospace-achieves-breakthrough-in-hypersonic-engine-development/156198.article)

Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: RON_P on 12/15/2023 01:05 am
GE ran a dual mode ramjet (DMRJ) using a rotating detonation wave (RDE) combustor?

https://www.flightglobal.com/engines/ge-aerospace-achieves-breakthrough-in-hypersonic-engine-development/156198.article (https://www.flightglobal.com/engines/ge-aerospace-achieves-breakthrough-in-hypersonic-engine-development/156198.article)
A rotating detonation combustor in a turbine ignited dual mode ramjet/scramjet ( TBCC ) or a rotating detonation rocket ignited the dual mode ramjet ( RBCC ) ?
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: russianhalo117 on 12/15/2023 01:18 am
GE ran a dual mode ramjet (DMRJ) using a rotating detonation wave (RDE) combustor?

https://www.flightglobal.com/engines/ge-aerospace-achieves-breakthrough-in-hypersonic-engine-development/156198.article (https://www.flightglobal.com/engines/ge-aerospace-achieves-breakthrough-in-hypersonic-engine-development/156198.article)
A rotating detonation combustor in a turbine ignited dual mode ramjet/scramjet ( TBCC ) or a rotating detonation rocket ignited the dual mode ramjet ( RBCC ) ?
It doesn't need to be a rocket engine to use RDC technology. The technology could see a future in Reaction Engines Limited current and upcoming R&D products.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: RON_P on 12/15/2023 12:00 pm
GE ran a dual mode ramjet (DMRJ) using a rotating detonation wave (RDE) combustor?

https://www.flightglobal.com/engines/ge-aerospace-achieves-breakthrough-in-hypersonic-engine-development/156198.article (https://www.flightglobal.com/engines/ge-aerospace-achieves-breakthrough-in-hypersonic-engine-development/156198.article)
A rotating detonation combustor in a turbine ignited dual mode ramjet/scramjet ( TBCC ) or a rotating detonation rocket ignited the dual mode ramjet ( RBCC ) ?
It doesn't need to be a rocket engine to use RDC technology. The technology could see a future in Reaction Engines Limited current and upcoming R&D products.
Reaction Engines  SABRE is somewhat similar but also very a different technology .
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: sanman on 12/15/2023 11:14 pm
Reaction Engines  SABRE is somewhat similar but also very a different technology .

I thought REL had that special pre-cooler with the intricate heat-exchanger. Would RDC really be compatible with that?
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: RON_P on 12/16/2023 03:38 pm
Reaction Engines  SABRE is somewhat similar but also very a different technology .

I thought REL had that special pre-cooler with the intricate heat-exchanger. Would RDC really be compatible with that?
Well they have ( or had ) ramjet bypass reheaters in the engine nozzle in the SABRE design
and off course it's borderline hypersonic ( Mach 5.5 max ) potential speeds the similarities basically end here .
You could maybe use rotating detonation in the turbomachinery combustor !?
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: 93143 on 12/16/2023 08:41 pm
SABRE 4, if I recall correctly, uses separate rocket and jet combustors to remove the need for an extremely high air compression ratio and the resulting cryogenic precooling requirement.  It turns out this saves enough hydrogen to about double the airbreathing Isp, which was already close to 3000 s in SABRE 3.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: sanman on 12/16/2023 11:51 pm
What fuel was being used in this RDE? Article doesn't seem to mention it.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: RON_P on 12/17/2023 06:55 pm
What fuel was being used in this RDE? Article doesn't seem to mention it.
Good old hydrocarbon Jet fuel ( scramjet optimized max speed with this fuel is Mach 6-7 ) .
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 12/20/2023 06:57 pm
Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine passes long duration test:

https://youtu.be/xtdgulfvLlk?si=KFYQZPgh5Rw5gye_
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 02/05/2024 08:14 am
Quote
German startup POLARIS Spaceplanes has completed the first rocket-powered roll test of its MIRA demonstrator.

MIRA is 4.25 metres long and is equipped with four kerosene-fed turbine engines and one of the company’s AS-1 LOX/kerosene linear aerospike engines, which is designed to produce 1kN of thrust. Testing of the vehicle under the power of its turbine engines began on 26 October with an initial 2.5-minute flight. Following this initial flight test campaign, POLARIS began working towards the first test flight powered by its aerospike engine.



Quote
MIRA is the fifth vehicle that POLARIS has built and tested. The lessons learned from these prototypes will be used in the development of the company’s multipurpose spaceplane and hypersonic transport system, AURORA. Once operational, AURORA will be capable of delivering up to 1,000 kilograms into low Earth orbit with the aid of an expendable upper stage.

https://europeanspaceflight.com/polaris-spaceplanes-conduct-first-rocket-powered-roll-test/
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 02/18/2024 06:50 pm
Quote
The future of the U.S. Air Force's secretive Mayhem program is uncertain amid a funding issue that could at least lead to a major delay. Mayhem's stated focus has been on demonstrating an air-launched hypersonic air vehicle capable of performing strike and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions, but the apparent demand for this capability within the service at all is now unclear. There could still be interest going forward in certain components of the project, including research and development work on advanced high-speed jet engines.



Quote
”What we are more interested in right now, in terms of a feasibility perspective, is a high-mach turbine engine," a U.S. Air Force official told The War Zone when asked about AFGSC's interest in Mayhem.

https://www.twz.com/news-features/future-of-mayhem-hypersonic-strike-recon-aircraft-program-murky
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: CameronD on 02/19/2024 01:16 am
Quote
”What we are more interested in right now, in terms of a feasibility perspective, is a high-mach turbine engine," a U.S. Air Force official told The War Zone when asked about AFGSC's interest in Mayhem.

https://www.twz.com/news-features/future-of-mayhem-hypersonic-strike-recon-aircraft-program-murky

Maybe I've missed something, but that quote doesn't make sense to me.  I assume he's referring to new TBCC engine tech?   ???
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: edzieba on 02/19/2024 09:29 am
Quote
”What we are more interested in right now, in terms of a feasibility perspective, is a high-mach turbine engine," a U.S. Air Force official told The War Zone when asked about AFGSC's interest in Mayhem.

https://www.twz.com/news-features/future-of-mayhem-hypersonic-strike-recon-aircraft-program-murky

Maybe I've missed something, but that quote doesn't make sense to me.  I assume he's referring to new TBCC engine tech?   ???
'High mach turbine engine' is exactly that: a turbine engine that can operate at higher mach numbers. For example, Reaction Engines' precooler used to cool incoming compressed and decelerated air (including the option to use that heat to crack propellant), water injection (e.g. the modified F-4s under SKYBURNER and PEACE JACK), ultra-high-temperature materials, etc.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: redneck on 02/19/2024 10:08 pm
Quote
”What we are more interested in right now, in terms of a feasibility perspective, is a high-mach turbine engine," a U.S. Air Force official told The War Zone when asked about AFGSC's interest in Mayhem.

https://www.twz.com/news-features/future-of-mayhem-hypersonic-strike-recon-aircraft-program-murky

Maybe I've missed something, but that quote doesn't make sense to me.  I assume he's referring to new TBCC engine tech?   ???
'High mach turbine engine' is exactly that: a turbine engine that can operate at higher mach numbers. For example, Reaction Engines' precooler used to cool incoming compressed and decelerated air (including the option to use that heat to crack propellant), water injection (e.g. the modified F-4s under SKYBURNER and PEACE JACK), ultra-high-temperature materials, etc.

There's also a few varieties of air-turborocket. Rick rocket drives the turbine that compresses the air. Turbine exhaust burns with the compressed air in an afterburner like combustion chamber. Turbine never sees the hot compressed air. Better thrust to weight than a turboject at the cost of high fuel consumption.
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: Star One on 03/07/2024 08:18 am
https://ir.kratosdefense.com/news-releases/news-release-details/kratos-successfully-static-test-fires-zeus-1-solid-propellant
Title: Re: General Hypersonic Flight Related Topics
Post by: RON_P on 03/20/2024 08:15 pm
Spirit Aero Wins High-Speed Wing Work For DARPA
https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/aircraft-propulsion/spirit-aero-wins-high-speed-wing-work-darpa