Technology Readiness for Hypersonic Vehicles

Abstract

Recent successful hypersonic technology demonstration efforts and an increasing focus on access to denied airspace have renewed interest in pursuing hypersonic weapon systems. This study examined the potential military utility of hypersonic technology to help the Air Force characterize the maturity (current and projected) of the applicable enabling technologies, identify overall system concepts, develop confidence in the requisite aerodynamics, propulsion, structures, materials, and flight control technologies for the vehicle, address the sensors, communications, and other auxiliary sub-systems needed for the overall concept, and effectively integrate all those technologies. The Study Team gathered data from across the US Air Force operational, research, and test communities and elsewhere in the Department of Defense as well as from the Intelligence Community and Industry.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 10, 2014
Accession Number
AD1147287

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Air Heaters
  • Air Launched
  • Aircrafts
  • Area Denial
  • Department Of Defense
  • High Temperature
  • Hypersonic Aircraft
  • Hypersonic Vehicles
  • Hypersonic Weapons
  • Intelligence Community
  • Reconnaissance
  • Reconnaissance Aircraft
  • Terminal Guidance
  • Test Facilities
  • Vehicles
  • Weapon Systems
  • Weapons

Readers

  • Enterprise Information Systems Architecture and Joint Command Capability Interoperability Support.
  • Fluid Mechanics and Fluid Dynamics.
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Hypersonics
  • Space