INNOVATIVE COMPOSITE STRUCTURES FOR FUTURE TACTICAL HYPERSONIC KINETIC ENERGY MISSILES

摘要

The U.S. Army is currently in the process of transforming it's force structure to meet the need for a rapidly deployable, lightweight ground force. This Objective Force will rely heavily on the use of advanced composite materials technology. The U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Research, Development, and Engineering Center (AMRDEC) is currently developing missile technology to fill the close combat anti-armor role for the next generation of land combat vehicles. The AMRDEC Compact Kinetic Energy Missile (CKEM) program is aimed at demonstrating critical technologies for a small, lightweight hypersonic kinetic energy missile that can defeat current and future armored threats. The AMRDEC approach for a CKEM is to demonstrate a concentrically-staged missile that utilizes a boost, separate, sustain thrust profile. Innovative composite structures design and fabrication techniques have been employed to provide a lightweight boost motor that consists of an annular composite motorcase with a separating terminal vehicle that is embedded within the motor chamber. This paper will discuss the CKEM boost motor design, kill vehicle integration, and development of flight weight hardware. Enabling technologies for this effort include advanced wash-out tooling, innovative filament winding applications, and efficient joining techniques.