Low Cost Solid Fueled Air-Turbo-Rocket Propulsion for M31 Variant Supersonic Sea Skimming Target

Preliminary CFDRC assessment indicates the proposed low cost solid fueled Air- Turbo-Rocket (ATR) can exceed current Navy requirements for an affordable supersonic expendable aerial target propulsion system. Existing vehicle/propulsion/trajectory software and system/component design experience will be utilized to refine the proposed ATR engine configuration for U.S. Navy aerial target and missile applications. Phase I will focus on identifying a propulsion system with fully throttleable static boost and sustain thrust for the M31 Variant Supersonic Sea Skimming Target (SSST) from air or ship launch to Mach 2.5.This will include preliminary study of system cost, packaging and performance.Issues associated with maximum flight speed, altitude, range, launch phase,aircraft interface, weight, dimensional limits and payload capacity will be addressed. Phase II will focus on supporting a joint WPAFB/MICOM ATR engine demonstration program being conducted by CFDRC and ATR propulsion teammates Sundstrand Power Systems, Atlantic Research Corporation and Hughes Missile Systems. Phase III could culminate in production of a joint services solid fueled ATR propulsion system potentially capable of static launch through Mach 2.5 flight at sea level conditions.