Hypersonic Platforms

Andrews Space has experience developing hypersonic platforms for a range of customer applications.  Andrews experience includes system performance modeling, detailed design, and system / technology development for a wide range of powered and unpowered vehicle configurations.  Andrews leverages its suite of proven in-house tools, analytical infrastructure (including computing cluster), and its Andrews Rapid Prototyping Laboratory (ARPL).  Example efforts are summarized below.

Common Aero Vehicle

Under the DARPA FALCON program, Andrews led a team comprised of Raytheon, Aerojet, and ATK GASL to develop hypersonic glide vehicles capable of 9,000 nmi of downrange and 3,000 nmi of cross range from a release point of >300,000 ft and Mach 23. These designs required detailed mission CONOPS, performance analysis, and vehicle design activities. Challenges included aerodynamic shaping, flight controls, hot structure design, and passive/active cooling subsystem designs. Andrews continues to focus on advanced suborbital platform designs to address future launch and global strike applications.

Hypersonic Cruise Vehicle

Under the DARPA FALCON Program the Andrews team designed a global strike aircraft that could deliver 12,000 lb of payload 9,000 nmi in two hours from takeoff. The system was powered by advanced hydrocarbon fuels and used both Turbine Based Combined Cycle and Supersonic Combustion Ramjet (SCRAMJET) technologies.