Light Weight Divert and Attitude Control System Propellant Tanks for Missile Defense

Phase 4 of the Missile Defense Agency"s Phased Adaptive Approach will include the deployment in 2020 of a land based Aegis missile to provide early intercept capability. The Liquid Divert and Attitude Control System (LDACS) in the interceptor payload has been identified as an excellent component for weight reduction through the use of composite materials. One potential configuration of the LDACS employs a flattened spherical shape propellant fuel tank. Traditionally, an elliptical shape tank is made with metal materials. San Diego Composites, Inc. (SDC) is proposing a program to demonstrate a lower weight Composite Overwrap Pressure Vessel (COPV) for a low aspect ratio propellant tank with application to the SM3 Blk IIB LDACS. The goal is to show a weight reduction compared to an all metal tank and to achieve TRL/MRL 4 of the COPV approach at end of Phase I, TRL 6/MRL 7 at end of Phase II. In the Phase I project, SDC will develop the COPV design, perform analysis, build test articles, burst test articles and correlate test results with predictions. Technology insertion will be achieved at the end of the Phase I program in which SDC will provide the data package to each and all Prime Contractors for evaluation during the Concept Definition and Program Planning phase of the SM3 Blk 2B program.