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Pentagon awards hypersonic missile defense contracts to Raytheon, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman
FOXBusiness ^ | By Thomas Barrabi

Posted on 11/20/2021 2:24:34 PM PST by BenLurkin

The companies will "complete an accelerated concept design" of a glide phase interceptor capable of tracking and targeting hypersonic missiles as they travel toward their target. The interceptors will be designed to integrate with the Pentagon’s existing Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense system.

Further details on the contract were not made public, but Reuters reported the companies received separate contracts with a total value of $60 million.

"Multiple awards allow us to execute a risk reduction phase to explore industry concepts and maximize the benefits of a competitive environment to demonstrate the most effective and reliable Glide Phase Interceptor for regional hypersonic defense, as soon as possible," said Rear Adm. Tom Druggan, MDA’s Sea-based Weapon Systems program executive.

The contracts were announced amid growing competition between the U.S., China and Russia to develop hypersonic missiles. The missiles fly five times faster than the speed of sound and are capable of maneuvering en route to their target, sparking fears they could avoid traditional defense systems.

(Excerpt) Read more at foxbusiness.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy
KEYWORDS: hypersonicmissile; lockheedmartin; northropgrumman; raytheon
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To: 17th Miss Regt

That whole maneuvering thing can indeed be tough. I remember the Russians shooting 5 cruise missiles from the Caspian to Syria and timing them by route turns to land at the same time. Easier at the slower speeds. Then I remember guys telling me that it takes a Blackbird about 180 miles to make a 180 degree turn, at speed. If one is going to fly hypersonic then making any kind of turn is going to be a neat trick. Try, just for fun, figgering out how you would turn a big rifle bullet?


21 posted on 11/20/2021 3:28:53 PM PST by OldWarBaby
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To: PIF

learn something new every day


22 posted on 11/20/2021 3:35:57 PM PST by calljack (Sometimes your worst nightmare is just a start.)
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To: BenLurkin

Well that will make sure it doesn’t cost too much and will be done in a timely manner. /s


23 posted on 11/20/2021 3:36:19 PM PST by Pollard (PureBlood -- youtube.com/watch?v=VXm0fkDituE)
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To: BenLurkin; LS

Those of us who worked on National Aerospace Plane (X-30) technologies (mach 25) are pissed it took this long.


24 posted on 11/20/2021 3:47:35 PM PST by OftheOhio (never could dance but always could fight - Romeo company)
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To: OldWarBaby

Most of us came to that conclusion decades ago. You wouldn’t do much turning streaking across the sky like a meteor.


25 posted on 11/20/2021 3:50:52 PM PST by OftheOhio (never could dance but always could fight - Romeo company)
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To: SaxxonWoods

My niece is an engineer there.


26 posted on 11/20/2021 3:52:33 PM PST by digger48
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To: BenLurkin

Boeing has flown hypersonic missiles since the 60’s.
Boeing doesn’t know how to curb their arrogance to win important contracts.


27 posted on 11/20/2021 3:58:32 PM PST by Hulka
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To: Real Cynic No More

We have it. . .since the mid-60’s. Technology demonstrator and refinements over decades but presentations to CJCS at the time (Michael Mullen) went no where. . .he had more “important” stuff to fund.


28 posted on 11/20/2021 4:02:27 PM PST by Hulka
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To: AppyPappy

Not classified to see, performance data is classified. We’ve been pushing for full funding since the mid-60’s. All unclassified in the documents, but performance specs are.


29 posted on 11/20/2021 4:05:52 PM PST by Hulka
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To: NormsRevenge

It is a missile that skips along the top of the atmosphere. . .proven technology since the mid-60s.


30 posted on 11/20/2021 4:06:46 PM PST by Hulka
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To: InterceptPoint

It is launched like a missile, hits “low orbit” (skips along the upper atmosphere), maneuvers using fins so we can choose what angle to attack and what countries to avoid overflight, then it gets close and begins its terminal phase using its fins for control.


31 posted on 11/20/2021 4:12:07 PM PST by Hulka
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To: OldWarBaby

You program tgt coordinates and during mid-phase make adjustments for attack axis and avoid overflight or select countries. All the maneuvering at the top speed takes place far, far from the target and at altitude, and when it begins its decent, its fins adjust and refine the attack axis.


32 posted on 11/20/2021 4:15:12 PM PST by Hulka
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To: calljack; phantomworker

ping


33 posted on 11/20/2021 4:30:09 PM PST by null and void (We can't be beaten unless we surrender, and we are NOT going to surrender!)
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To: Hulka

It is launched like a missile, hits “low orbit” (skips along the upper atmosphere), maneuvers using fins so we can choose what angle to attack and what countries to avoid overflight, then it gets close and begins its terminal phase using its fins for control.
+++++
Much thanks for that. It makes sense.


34 posted on 11/20/2021 5:02:45 PM PST by InterceptPoint (Ted, you finally endorsed.)
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To: BenLurkin

Why not award the contract to China?


35 posted on 11/20/2021 5:44:36 PM PST by ProtectOurFreedom (“…in any great disaster, there's a Harvard man in the middle of it.” ~ Thomas Sowell)
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

Hunter has already been paid for conceptual art work of them


36 posted on 11/20/2021 5:52:26 PM PST by al baby (Hi Mom Hi Dad)
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To: InterceptPoint

Glide phase means no thrust, but, that doesn’t mean no steering. Sailplanes have no engines, but can still be steered.


37 posted on 11/20/2021 6:19:26 PM PST by coloradan (They're not the mainstream media, they're the gaslight media. It's what they do. )
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To: BenLurkin

My somewhat educated guess is that skin-to-skin intercept is not the optimal countermeasure for a hypersonic weapon in glide phase in atmosphere, because your target could be maneuvering at least somewhat.

You target enemy missiles in their different phases of flight, differently. In boost phase or mid-course in space, skin-to-skin intercept is the method and is quite feasible when the target cannot maneuver. Directed energy against the booster is another option for boost phase, depending on the circumstances.

For hypersonic glide phase in atmosphere, the options seem to be directed energy, or a warhead which dispenses many thousands of BBs in the immediate path of the target vehicle. Use the target’s high speed against it. The relatively massive shrapnel in conventional air-intercept warheads would be sub-optimal for this job because the small hypersonic target could possibly miss the relatively fewer pieces of shrapnel as they disperse.

An expanding cloud of many thousands of tungsten BBs should do it, if delivered to the right spot at the right time.


38 posted on 11/20/2021 6:44:03 PM PST by JustaTech (A mind is a terrible thing)
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To: BenLurkin
The missiles fly five times faster than the speed of sound and are capable of maneuvering en route to their target,

You mean similar to the Space Shuttle on re-entry?? 17,000 MPH (~mach 23) to 0.

39 posted on 11/20/2021 7:32:08 PM PST by pfflier
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To: BenLurkin

Lets hope we know what potential enemies have too. Our intelligence agencies have to get penetration in the enemy camp.


40 posted on 11/21/2021 6:12:53 AM PST by JoeRender
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