Advanced Cooling Approach for an Aerodynamically Heated Weapon Radome

ABSTRACT: A new generation of supersonic weapons will operate at Mach 3-6. Current radome materials are unable to withstand the heat generated at the temperatures associated with hypersonic flight. Mainstream Engineering is proposing an advanced cooling approach that helps to extend the performance of existing radome materials into the Mach 3-6 region. Making use of extensive CFD and thermal control experience, a solution will be developed that prevents structural and optical failure of the radome at the high temperatures experienced due to aerothermal heating. The proposed approach will be designed to minimize weight and volume impact on weapon configuration, allowing the radome to fit into existing architecture without significant modifications. At the completion of the Phase I effort, Mainstream will have completed a computational design of the radome cooling approach as well as an experimental evaluation of a subscale prototype. In Phase II, Mainstream plans to perform wind tunnel experiments on a full scale prototype based on the results of the Phase I. BENEFIT: Without the development of advanced cooling strategies for high-speed weapon radomes, missile performance improvements will be halted. With the advanced cooling approach developed through this effort, Mainstream will have a technology capable of mitigating the issues that come from aerodynamic heating in the next generation of advanced spacecraft and weaponry.