Highly Maneuverable Destructive Expendable (HM-DEX) for Aircraft Self-Protection

Destructive Expendable (DEX), a small rocket-powered projectile, is an effective countermeasure platform against anti-aircraft missiles. DEX requires high stability and extreme maneuvering capabilities to protect the aircraft from advanced anti-aircraft missiles that have seek-and-destroy capability. Orbital Research, Inc., in collaboration with The University of Toledo, proposes a Highly Maneuverable DEX (HM-DEX) configuration and a Hit-to-Kill (HIT-DEX) configuration to enhance stability and maneuverability of DEX using optimally designed fins and novel flow control strategies. Phase I program will demonstrate the feasibility of HM-DEX concept through experimental and modeling studies on a full scale DEX model. The program will focus on: reducing weather-vaning effects immediately after launch, DEX tumble control, improving stability at moderate-to-extreme launch angles, and increasing azimuthal dispersion of DEX via enhanced flight control. The focus of our Phase II program will be a Hit-to-Kill DEX (HIT-DEX) configuration, where Orbital Research will design, develop, and demonstrate advanced, super-maneuverable HIT-DEX utilizing the technologies developed during the Phase I program with the inclusion of flow thrust vectoring. The proposed Highly Maneuverable DEX can be used on all air vehicles that are in need of self-protection capability for defense against a missile threat.