ATK Awarded Rocket Motor Technologies Development Contract for Next Generation Air-to-Air Missiles
(Source: ATK Alliant Techsystems; issued October 29, 2009)
MINNEAPOLIS — Alliant Techsystems has been awarded a research and development contract for the Counter Air / Future Naval Capabilities (CA/FNC) program to develop technologies that can be incorporated into next generation air-to-air missile systems.
The nearly $10-million contract was issued by the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, China Lake, California. ATK will work in concert with NAWCWD to identify specific propulsion technologies to develop for integration into future missile systems. The work is expected to be completed by June 2013.
The scope of the CA/FNC program is to develop technologies that will extend missile range, decrease time-to-target, improve end-game maneuverability, and improve the rocket motor’s response to insensitive munitions (IM) stimuli. These improvements are oriented towards the 7-inch diameter Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) that is currently in use by the U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, and many allied nations, but will be applicable to other air-to-air missile systems.
There are four main areas that ATK will be concentrating their development efforts on which include: high burn rate propellants for improved kinematics; improving case stiffness for reduced weight and agility; low erosion nozzles for improved performance; and multi-pulse propulsion for end-game maneuverability. Additionally, ATK will address the IM requirement by incorporating affordable solutions including an advanced propellant formulation, a low cost composite case, and mitigation safety devices proven on other tactical rocket motor programs.
“By drawing on our heritage rocket motor experience, proven service life of fielded propulsion systems, and incorporating unique technologies, ATK will develop a robust, affordable propulsion system to meet current and future counter air targets with the potential to influence all future air-launched missiles. ATK’s proven leadership in the development of advanced propellants, IM solutions, and pulse motors will pay benefits in developing this improved propulsion system for the U.S. Navy,” said Bart Olson, Vice President and General Manager of ATK’s Tactical Propulsion and Controls Division.
ATK is the sole source rocket motor supplier for all currently fielded U.S. air-to-air missile systems that include the AMRAAM and AIM-9X. The technologies developed under this contract will ensure ATK maintains its leadership role in providing rocket motors for next generation air-to-air missiles.
ATK is a premier aerospace and defense company with more than 18,000 employees in 22 states, Puerto Rico and internationally, and revenues of approximately $4.8 billion.
By: SpudmanWP - 24th April 2013 at 03:03
More info found on the ATK new motor tech development.
The Development contract (started in 2009) appeared in the FY2013 budget as it’s own line item (STK-FY09-03) as part of the Sea Strike section of “PROJECT 3346: Future Naval Capabilities Adv Tech Dev”
http://www.dtic.mil/descriptivesum/Y2013/Navy/stamped/0603673N_3_PB_2013.pdf
FY2013 plans
EC: STK-FY09-03 Enhanced Weapons Technologies
– Complete Counter Air Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) Improvements – Demonstrate propulsion system, manufacture hardware, cast propellant grains, assemble rocket motors and test in both environmental and static conditions.
– Complete High Speed Components – Demonstrate an advanced radome, fabrication of full scale radome and performance testing under relevant environmental conditions.
– Continue Counter Air Defense Improvements – Demonstrate propulsion system, manufacture hardware, cast propellant grains, assemble rocket motors and test in both performance and insensitive munitions conditions.
Here is the relevant section from the recently released FY2014 budget.
FY 2014 Plans:
EC: STK-FY09-03 ENHANCED WEAPONS TECHNOLOGIES
– Complete Counter Air Defense Improvements – Finish materials and design concepts, and develop high temperature resin-fiber and high temperature oxidative-exhaust resistant materials with associated design implementations.
Searching for more info From the ONR comes up with:
http://www.onr.navy.mil/Media-Center/Fact-Sheets/Counter-Air-AMRAAM.aspx
What Is It?
The Counter Air (CA) Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) Improvements Future Naval Capability (FNC) will increase the kinematic performance of the AIM-120D medium-range air-to-air missile, thus enabling extended range and decreased time to target.
How Does It Work?
The CA FNC will achieve this through a combination of propulsion technologies that include higher energy propellants, highly loaded grain design, composite motor case design and low erosion nozzles.
What Will It Accomplish?
By improving the kinematic performance of existing air-to-air weapon systems like the AIM-120D AMRAAM, CA will ensure the U.S. warfighter maintains the tactical edge in air-to-air engagements against any peer competitor.
The CA AMRAAM Improvements FNC is developing a missile propulsion system with substantially improved kinematic capabilities for the AIM-120D AMRAAM. To achieve this, the FNC is developing and integrating four advanced technologies: High Energy Propellants; Highly Loaded Grain; High-Stiffness/Pressure, High Temperature Capable Composite Case; and Low Erosion Nozzles. The kinematic performance enhancements are focused on improving the “no-escape range,” “time-to-target” and terminal phase maneuverability.
Many of the technologies being matured in this FNC are the fruits of ONR investment in a joint-service propulsion program known as Integrated High Payoff Rocket Propulsion Technology (IHPRPT). Developmental high energy propellant formulations from both industry and government will be considered on the basis of increased total impulse power achieved across the spectrum of operational environments. Highly loaded grain technologies will be investigated to enable the “end-burning” propellant grain, which will allow for higher volumetric loading of propellant within the rocket motor. A lighter weight composite case will be developed to offset the weight delta incurred by the new propellant and grain designs. Lastly, low erosion nozzles are needed to maintain motor efficiencies while enduring greater erosive forces, temperatures, and pressures yielded by the new higher energy propellant and grain designs.
The CA AMRAAM Improvements product is responding to higher kinematic performance requirements for AMRAAM as expressed by the Fleet. These kinematic performance improvements provide the potential to achieve warfighter-defined tactical advantage in the near future. The product will extend the missile’s no-escape range, while also decreasing time of flight to target at maximum range and increasing terminal maneuverability for air-to-air engagements. Additional benefits derived from the highly-loaded grain and composite case features are their inherently positive effect on Insensitive Munitions (IM) compliance.
The product is focused on transition to a pre-planned product improvement (P3I) program for the AIM-120D AMRAAM, but it could also serve as a solid rocket motor technology demonstrator for use in any potential future missile development effort.
The good new is that the program is funded & on track. BAd news, looks like Dual-Pulse is out in favor of more energetic fuel.
By: mabie - 1st November 2009 at 03:11
OK thanks.
By: djcross - 1st November 2009 at 01:21
What does this mean ?
…and improve the rocket motor’s response to insensitive munitions (IM) stimuli.
US Navy has a history of accidents at sea caused by munitions that exploded on the flight deck or inside the ship’s magazines during a fire. This caused USN to issue “Insensitive Munitions” requirements that future munitions (including missile propellants) be able to withstand specified high temperatures for extended periods without detonation or deflagration.
By: mabie - 1st November 2009 at 00:49
What does this mean ?
…and improve the rocket motor’s response to insensitive munitions (IM) stimuli.
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October 31, 2009 at 9:33 pm