Tacital Missile Air Turbo Rocket Propulsion System

An innovative approach is proposed for the development of a low cost Air Turbo Rocket (ATR) propulsion system by using Off-the-Shelf (OTS) component technology. The proposed ATR propulsion system will be capable of delivering up to 500 lbf boost thrust and 265 lbf of fully throttlable sustained thrust with a 10-1 turndown ratio. All propulsion module integration requirements will be focused toward a 5.85 inch diameter tactical missile airframe that can operate at a sea level sustained flight Mach Number of 1.5. Major activities during Phase I include: 1) optimization of critical ATR cycle parameters; 2) detailed vehicle mission analysis; 3) delivery and test support of OTS turbomachinery components; 4) analysis and conceptual design of ATR combustor technology; and 5) generation of an ATR module detailed design layout. During Phase II a flight weight ATR propulsion module will be developed by CFDRC and assembled in the MICOM propulsion laboratory. Phase III could consist of actual integration of ATR propulsion technology into a prototype test missile.