The USA Designs Combined Engines for Hypersonic Vehicles
A combined engine has to be created for a promising multipurpose hypersonic missile as the Pentagon has decided for itself. At the same time, such engines can be equipped for both planes and unmanned vehicles.
What Is a Key Point?
The new combined engine will be capable of operating over the entire range of speeds possible for a hypersonic aircraft. According to this scheme, in particular, the American company Lockheed Martin creates an engine for the promising SR-72 hypersonic drone. Engineering design, in this case, plays a key role in developing future devices. That is why it is very important to pay careful attention to this part of the work and apply it to professional workers. For example, engineering design services at Engre will meet all requirements made by a customer. The ability of an airplane or missile to switch between low and high-speed modes in the future will enable the concept of "low-slow flight" followed by high-speed flight.
Two Prototypes of Hypersonic Missiles
The US military announced the next successful stage of testing two prototypes of a hypersonic cruise missile, according to Defense News . We are not talking about the independent flight of products, such tests, as planned, will take place later this year.
The tests are carried out by the DARPA and the US Air Force. Lockheed Martin and Raytheon were the first one who came up with the idea of hypersonic rockets with atmospheric jet engines as part of the HAWC concept, a hypersonic jet-powered missile.
The aircraft of both companies are designed to achieve speeds five times the speed of sound. The upcoming flight tests will assess whether the weapon control systems will be able to withstand hypersonic cruising speeds.
“The completion of the carrier test series demonstrates that both HAWC designs are ready for free flight,” said Andrew Nödler, DARPA HAWC Program Manager.
In February 2020, the head of the Strategic Command of the US Armed Forces, Admiral Charles Richard, announced that this year will be a pivotal year in the development and deployment of hypersonic weapons in the United States. Richard noted that hypersonic weapons would provide "effective deterrent capabilities" and increase the country's combat capability. This is necessary to respond to existing and future threats.
Before that, the Deputy Chairman, General John Hayten, said that the United States had lost world leadership in the development of hypersonic weapons, and now the country would have to restore its positions in this area for several years. Hayten noted that ten years ago, the Pentagon was ahead of other countries in the field of hypersound.
What Are the Next Steps?
Nowadays, when we talk about the development of hypersonic aircraft, the first thing that comes to mind is difficulties. Unfortunately, the difficulties accompany the process of development of hypersonic aircraft. And the key problem is an engine that could give the desired speed which is an actual hypersonic speed.
So, by-pass jet engines installed on fighters, due to their design features, cannot accelerate an aircraft faster than Mach 2.2.
The US Air Force is now looking to acquire a testbed to support flight tests of these engine types. By the way, it is worth noting that the US Naval Forces plan to design a new cruise r as well which can be evidence that the USA is planning to develop all its forces.
Characteristics of the American Hypersonic Missile AGM-183A ARRW
US Air Force Major General Andrew J. Gebara, director of strategic plans, programs, and requirements told Air Force Magazine preliminary characteristics of the AGM-183A ARRW missile. According to him, “this product can fly almost 1000 miles in 10-12 minutes, this is amazing.” When it comes to land miles, this gives a maximum firing range of about 1600 km and a warhead speed between M = 6.5 and M = 8. Earlier, even the approximate characteristics of ARRW were not disclosed.