The US Navy for the first time a Ramjet missile from a drone

The US Navy. He has successfully launched, for the first time, a staging missile (Ramjet) Solid Fuel (SFIRR) From an unmanned vehiclethus achieving an important step forward in the modernization of its missiles. With this test, the Armament Division of the Naval Air War Center (NawCWD) has updated a concept developed decades ago: Miniaturize missiles by combining a Ramjet engine – which ‘breathes’ air – with a solid fuel rocket.

The test also integrated the use of a shooting control system in a non -manned vehicle (UAS) BQM-34 which allowed the shot and demonstrate the advances in capacities of High speed and long -range armament. Launch the missile from a drone allows Attack objectives from greater distances with greater securityaccording to the Nawcwd.

The integration of advanced propulsion, airplane and shooting control technologies in this technological demonstrator has been carried out In 12 months. The Nawcwd emphasizes that The rapid technologies transition From research to operational use, it is key to maintaining a military advantage.

Abbey Horningproduct director of the Office of Advanced Concepts, Prototypes and Experimentation Del Nawcwd, has affirmed that this successful integration validates key design aspects and brings them closer to offer An advanced propulsion system that will give the armed forces greater scope and speed. ‘We are not only taking up an ancient idea; We are perfecting and modernizing to adapt it to current missions‘, says Horning.

An ancient technology adapted to the present

Ramjet solid fuel technology is not new; has been in development since the 40s of the last century. A Ramjet missile is a type of reaction missile that is driven using An engine that does not have moving parts such as turbines or compressors and works thanks to the air flow that enters at high speed while flying. That is, you need to go quickly from the beginning, so it is launched from another vehicle, and once running The air enters the front, mixes with the fuel and burnsgenerating a very efficient thrust at high speeds, even beyond that of sound. The statorreactor type engines that reach supersonic speeds are called Scramjet.

In this case, the engine is a solid fuel ramjet, which means that The fuel is in solid state inside the missile, not liquid or gas. Thus, the SFIRR simplifies the propulsion of missiles to the Eliminate the complexity present in the Ramjet Systems of liquid fuel. This significantly reduces the weight, which allows more useful load and traveling greater distances with greater maneuverability, according to the statement.

‘Sfirr offers a balance between cost, reliability and performance Adapted to the operational needs of the Navy, ‘says Horning.

Ephraim Washburndeputy director of energy of the NAWCWD, explained that ‘we have been driving cars since the beginning of the 20th century, but that does not mean that we have stopped improving them. Ramjet solid fuel technology received a significant investment in the 70s and 80s, but Now we are making it a modern propulsion solution for the fleet ‘.

Washburn emphasizes that this is a technology With operational credibility. ‘We are working to perfect its scope, resistance and attack capacity ‘.

By using outside air for combustion, the statorreactor is also a more efficient propulsion system within the atmosphere than a rocketwhich should carry your own oxygen. This makes it appropriate for flights at very high speed and can increase the scope of a missile.