Alternative Flight Control Methods for Supersonic/Hypersonic Cruise Missiles

Acree Technologies, Inc. (ATI) has demonstrated the effectiveness of using an innovative Cathodic Arc Plasma Source (CAPS) to produce high-density plasma for pressure changes of over 100% in a Mach-5 flow. ATI proposes to use its CAPS system for actuation of supersonic and hypersonic missile systems. The goal of the Phase-I is to show actuation effects in the speed range of interest, namely Mach 0.5 to Mach 5. Plasma actuators work by coupling electromagnetic energy directly to the flow stream via the plasma without the use of a mechanical intermediary such as a pump, a flap or a motor. By adjusting the plasma density and magnetic field, the lift can be varied between zero and high values. The advantage of this approach is that there are no moving parts, so it is very robust. The CAPS is capable of being energized in a matter of microseconds compared to at least milliseconds for mechanical systems, which allows for increased accuracy of high-speed missiles.