Reduced Drag Connector for Hellfire Missile

The Hellfire air-to-ground missile is a combat-proven system that can be launched from multiple platforms with precision strike lethality. The benefits of this project are to increase the effectiveness and utility of the Hellfire missile by increasing the range which is achieved through the reduction of the fly-away aerodynamic drag of the missile after launch. This reduction in drag is achieved by the conversion of the current shotgun connecter with a new low profile connector and adapter. The technical objective of this Phase I SBIR study is to select a design alternative to the existing Hellfire shotgun connector that will mate to any unmodified launch and will to maintain the existing shotgun missile to launcher mechanical and electrical interfaces while also mating to the Hellfire Guidance Section Housing. The existing shotgun connector on the Guidance Section Housing is a significant drag feature of the Hellfire missile. By selecting and incorporating a new low profile connector the Guidance Section Housing can be modified to reduce its profile that results in a fly-away configuration that has decreased aerodynamic drag. The adapter will be securely retained by launcher after the missile has been launched.