Loitering Aircraft as a Capability Added for Anti-ballistic Missile Systems

Abstract

In the last few years, there have been a number of successful tests of hypersonic vehicles powered by supersonic- combustion ramjets (scramjets). These have led us to wonder if such vehicles could offer benefits in an anti-ballistic missile (ABM) role. There are two key considerations in such a use of this technology. First, the scramjet works best in a relatively thin layer of the earth s atmosphere at an altitude of approximately 90,000 feet. This is not to say that the projectile will not work below this altitude, but it is at this altitude that the hydrogen-fueled engine interacts with the oxygen resulting in hypersonic speeds up to mach 9.6 or nearly 7,000 mph. The second consideration stems directly from the first unless released directly into that portion of the atmosphere, the projectile will require some form of boost phase to get it there.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 2006
Accession Number
ADA634851

Entities

People

  • Bobbie L. Foote
  • Gregory L. Boylan
  • Roger Burk

Organizations

  • United States Military Academy

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • C4I
  • Counter WMD
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aircrafts
  • Airships
  • Altitude
  • Anti-Ballistic Missiles
  • Ballistic Missiles
  • Command And Control
  • Earth Models
  • Geometry
  • Hypersonic Missiles
  • Models
  • Munitions
  • Projectiles
  • Risk Management
  • Theater Ballistic Missiles
  • United States
  • United States Military Academy
  • Vehicles

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Fluid Mechanics and Fluid Dynamics.
  • Strategic Security Studies

Technology Areas

  • Hypersonics