THAAD System Completes Important Test

On July 15, 2004 the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) team successfully completed a System Flight Certification test of the THAAD Divert & Attitude Control System (DACS). The DACS is designed and built by Boeing Rocketdyne for the Lockheed Martin-led missile team. Conducted at the Air Force Research Laboratory, Edwards Air Force Base, CA, this was the second Development Phase hot-fire test of a flight representative DACS. In this case, the test was conducted at altitude (vacuum) and ambient temperature conditions as a next step towards testing at temperature extremes. Primary objectives were to demonstrate (1) overall system performance and functionality, (2) pulse mode dynamics with single and multiple divert and attitude control thruster firings, and (3) a typical mission duty cycle representative of THAAD missile operation. Preliminary assessment of the data indicates that all the test objectives were achieved. The terminal countdown demonstrated helium pressurization to full flight pressure, laser initiated ordnance operation, and integrated valve driver assembly/simulated missile interface communication. A total of 33 firing sequences were conducted, including the mission duty cycle, with over 90 divert pulses and nearly 2000 attitude control pulses. Total thruster operating time was over 25 seconding during the 80-second test. Successful completion of this test is another major contributor to risk reduction on the path to flight testing.

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