Northrop Grumman is to develop solid-fuel ramjet propulsion for missile prototypes under the US Army’s eXtended Range Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System (XRC) programme in a USD18.8 million contract.
The company will develop and integrate the propulsion technology into XRC missile prototypes under a contract with the US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation & Missile Center.
Unlike conventional solid rocket motors, solid-fuel ramjets use atmospheric oxygen as the oxidiser during flight, allowing more internal volume for fuel. Northrop Grumman said the approach is intended to provide greater range and energy for engaging manoeuvrable aerial threats.
The programme will include ground and flight testing of the propulsion system and its production processes. XRC is intended to extend the capabilities of the Army’s Maneuver Short Range Air Defense (M-SHORAD) system and provide extended-range counter-uncrewed aerial systems (C-UAS) capability against unmanned aerial threats.
Development will take place at Northrop Grumman’s Allegany Ballistics Laboratory in West Virginia.
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Image: Northrop Grumman performs a ground test of a solid fuel ramjet propulsion system, demonstrating the company’s commitment to pioneering propulsion technologies that underpin future missile capabilities. (Credit: Northrop Grumman)
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