High Temperature RF Cables Phase II

Hypersonic vehicles and weapons systems offer the ability to quickly strike across the globe and are essential for the future of the U.S. armed forces. Operating these systems at hypersonic speeds presents new engineering challenges in communications, controls, and sensors. Current devices used on conventional aircraft are not adequate for environments that can reach temperatures of up to 2,760 °C (5,000 °F) and experience high combined thermal, mechanical, and acoustic loading. Such extreme environments limit both the instrumentation and ground communication capabilities of hypersonic vehicles, and the development of high-temperature sensors, cables, and connectors will be an essential step in improving the operational performance of hypersonic systems. High-temperature radio frequency (RF) cables are of particular interest as they are necessary for vital telemetry, radar tracking, and radio communications, and can be the difference between mission success and failure. Current state-of-the-art RF cables are limited to max temperatures of ~1,000 °C and connectors limited to ~800°C. The Navy is seeking cables that can survive and perform up at temperatures of 1,200-1,500 °C while under hypersonic flight conditions. GTL is developing hypersonic flight condition rated RF cables with the capability to collect and relay vital data at faster velocities, enabling scientists and engineers to peer beyond the current event horizon of hypersonic research. This leap in data retrieval and transfer could lead to breakthroughs in this vital and immensely relevant field of space and military technology.