Disruptive Propulsion Technology to Enhance the Missile Defense System

Solid rocket motors have been the propulsion bedrock of missile defense interceptors. Adversaries now present scary new capabilities with hypersonic missiles. To address the challenges with defending against hypersonic threats, the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) is interested in future interceptor systems that increase time, range, and defeat opportunities. Scramjets as upper stage propulsion support these goals. Spectral Energies proposes to develop a technology enabling scramjet propulsion system that that can operate on solid fuel or liquid fuel, has term storability, provides maneuverability, and that is significantly smaller compared to conventional scramjets. Spectral Energies proposes a revolutionary approach that promises a significant improvement in system-level performance, far surpassing the incremental benefits of current methods. In the Phase II, Spectral Energies will advance critical scramjet propulsion technologies, addressing the major technical challenges. This will be guided by concurrent system-level trade studies of using scramjet propulsion in interceptor upper stages, along with engagement analysis. This will support the iterative prototyping, ground-testing, and evaluation of the novel concepts under a range of relevant-scale, relevant-condition hardware to mature the technology in the Phase II from a TRL of 3,4 to a TRL of 6. To ensure transition success, Spectral Energies is working with key industry partners, who will be the first end users of the technology. We will develop a detailed transition plan to take the Phase II prototypes to a flight-representative ground test demonstration in the Phase III, closely working with our partners.