Ground Based Scramaccelerator Launcher

Phase I will analyze use of a hypervelocity launcher to provide ahigh mass (2 to 20 kilograms), hypervelocity (4 km\sec) demonstrator for a Theater Missile Defense (TMD) System. Current ballistic powder guns, along with one and two stage light gas guns, cannot meet the high mass requirements while maintaining high velocities required for rapid target aquisition. A concept that would provide low cost options with the mass and velocity requirements above will be investigated. Advanced Projects Research, Inc. will design a propulsion concept using controlled and stabilized Oblique Detonation Waves (ODW) to enhance launcher technology and capability. When this propulsion concept is applied to the acceleration of tube launched projectiles, an ODW Scramaccelerator can be designed using conventional gaseous propellants and accelerating projectiles of practical size (.1 to 100 kilograms) up to five kilometers per second and beyond.