Description:
OBJECTIVE: Develop and demonstrate improvements in SDACS performance in areas such as high-temperature, lightweight materials; propellants; thrust control techniques; and innovative SDACS architectures. DESCRIPTION: Ballistic Missile Defense kinetic warheads (KWs) utilize a DACS to maneuver the KW to intercept ballistic missile threats. A solid propellant is used to provide safe storage aboard Navy vessels. Current solid propellant DACS have performance limitations relative to liquid propellant DACS with respect to operating time, divert distance and energy management (on/off capability) and mass. These limitations result in reduced missile performance. Mission requirements for fast (high burnout velocity) interceptors require a light weight KW. To meet these evolving requirements, DACS technology will require improvements in high-temperature, lightweight materials; innovative propellants; thrust control techniques; and performance characterization. Specific areas of interest include 1. High temperature, light weight materials: Development/demonstration of light weight structural insulator materials that can perform as rigid insulation to reduce component weight and volume, can replace multi layered components by performing as pressure vessels. These materials should be able to maintain dimensional stability under high thermal loads (>3000F) and thermal shock (70F-3000F within 500 ms) conditions under varying operating pressures (15psi -1500 psi). 2. Propellants: Demonstrate innovative propellants that demonstrate enhanced controllability. 3. Thrust control techniques: develop innovative technologies for thrust control, including on/off valve technology, light weight actuators, and electronic control techniques. 4. Innovative SDACS architectures: Devise innovate technologies for SDACS architectures that improves performance (energy management) while reducing overall SDACS mass to achieve performance similar to liquid DACS. PHASE I: Develop a proof-of-concept solution; identify candidate materials, propellants, thrust control techniques or innovative SDACS architectures. Complete preliminary evaluation of the technology showing the assessment of improvement through performance improvement, weight reduction or operation time increase. At completion of this program the design and assessment will be documented for Phase II. PHASE II: Expand on Phase I results by producing the components, demonstrating the technology or concept. These activities will provide data to support the studies completed in the phase I program (component technology,or SDACS architecture) to substantiate the improvements. This will allow a more thorough assessment of the technology for application to the SM-3 missile. PHASE III: The developed process/product should have direct insertion potential into the SM-3 missile. Conduct engineering and manufacturing development, test, evaluation, qualification. Demonstration would include, but not limited to, demonstration in a real system or operation in a system level test-bed with insertion planning for a missile defense interceptor. COMMERCIALIZATION: The technologies developed under this SBIR topic should have applicability to defense industry as well as other potential applications such as commercial space flight and commercial industries which employ the use of energetic chemicals. REFERENCES: 1) George P. Sutton,"Rocket propulsion Elements; Introduction to Engineering of Rockets"7th edition, John Willey & Sons, 2001. 2) Mik HDBK 17: Department of Defense Handbook: Composite Materials Handbook. January 23, 1997.
