US Air Force eyes flight of ramjet missile

By Michael Sirak JDW Staff Reporter
Washington, DC

After decades of research, US Air Force engineers say they are now on the cusp of testing in flight a novel solid-fuelled propulsion system designed for next- generation air-to-air missiles.

However, standing in the way of them flight testing this Variable Flow Ducted Rocket (VFDR) system – a type of ramjet – is a lack of funding, since the missile work has to compete with more pressing service priorities. Nonetheless, engineers said they are hopeful that the funding will materialise in the next few years.

Developmental efforts by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) to date have matured the preliminary flight design of a VFDR-powered missile concept.

While Europe’s MBDA is developing the ramjet-powered Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile, the VFDR concept is the only US air-to-air system of this ilk.

The AFRL’s 7 in-diameter VFDR model is in the same size class as the AMRAAM, and its inlets have been sized for compact carriage in the internal weapons bays of the F/A-22 Raptor and F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, in addition to other AMRAAM carriage concepts, said Fred Davis, technical director of the directorate’s assessment and demonstrations division. The AFRL is “very encouraged” by the design, Davis told JDW.

http://www.janes.com/regional_news/americas/news/jdw/jdw050606_3_n.shtml

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