The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has selected Boeing to spearhead the development and testing of technology necessary for constructing a prototype capable of intercepting hypersonic missiles in the upper atmosphere.
This undertaking is a vital component of DARPA's four-year Glide Breaker initiative. In its official statement, Boeing affirmed that the company will conduct computational fluid dynamics analysis, wind tunnel testing, and assess aerodynamic jet interaction effects during flight trials.
Boeing on the Glide Breaker Program of DARPA
Gil Griffin, Executive Director of Boeing Phantom Works Advanced Weapons, emphasized the urgency of addressing hypersonic threats, regarding them as one of the most swiftly evolving and dangerous challenges to national security.
The focus, Griffin stated, is on acquiring the technological comprehension essential for advancing the nation's counter-hypersonic capabilities. The Glide Breaker program is geared towards offering insights into the design and development of future hypersonic interceptors.
These interceptors would be equipped to neutralize threats hurtling through the upper atmosphere at speeds exceeding five times that of sound during the "glide phase" of flight.
Boeing's leadership in the development and testing phase is envisioned to furnish the groundwork for forthcoming operational glide-phase interceptors capable of safeguarding against these highly intricate and evolving hypersonic dangers.
Griffin further noted that this phase of the Glide Breaker program is dedicated to understanding how "factors like hypersonic airflow and firing jet thrusters to guide the vehicle affect system performance at extreme speed and altitude in a representative digital environment."
"We're operating on the cutting edge of what's possible in terms of intercepting an extremely fast object in an incredibly dynamic environment," he added.
LongShot Missile-Equipped Drone
In a related development, DARPA and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. are poised to begin the flight-testing phase of their "LongShot" missile-firing drone.
The joint venture, which began in 2020, saw General Atomics securing a competitive contract to bring DARPA's vision of an air-to-air capable vehicle to life. The collaboration aims to revolutionize combat aircraft.
The aircraft combines air-to-air missiles with a jet-powered drone that fighters and bombers can launch and control. Over the past three years, General Atomics has undergone a series of design iterations to fine-tune the aircraft's performance, culminating in the forthcoming flight testing slated for 2024.
This phase is pivotal in confirming fundamental vehicle handling characteristics, laying the groundwork for subsequent development and evaluation.
"We are extremely excited to get in the air! Flight testing will validate digital designs that have been refined throughout the course of the project. General Atomics is dedicated to leveraging this process to rapidly deliver innovative unmanned capabilities for national defense," said Mike Atwood, General Atomics' Vice President of Advanced Aircraft Programs.
The central aim of the LongShot program is to disrupt the established norms of air combat operations. That entails demonstrating an unmanned air-launched vehicle capable of employing current air-to-air weapons, vastly extending engagement range, and bolstering mission effectiveness.
The program encompasses the design, fabrication, and flight testing of a demonstration system to substantiate the feasibility of the LongShot concept.
