GAINESVILLE, Va. --- Atlantic Research Corporation (ARC), a unit of Sequa Corporation, has completed heavyweight ramjet engine development testing for the Supersonic Sea Skimming Target (SSST), designated GQM-163A, for the US Navy.
The SSST System is under development to provide the Navy with an affordable capability to meet early 21st century fleet training and weapons systems test requirements to simulate Anti-Ship Cruise Missiles.
Orbital Sciences Corporation is the SSST missile target prime contractor, and is supported by Raytheon for missile avionics, and ARC for propulsion. The ARC contract covers a three-year development and flight-tests program, and includes options for two years of production.
The SSST engine, designated MARC-R-282, is based on the Variable Flow Ducted Rocket (VFDR) ramjet engine cycle. ARC has conducted numerous technology programs over the last twenty years to develop the required ramjet engine component design approaches. On the SSST program, ARC is transitioning the VFDR technology to a level of maturity required for use in a missile system.
Initial testing of the MARC-R-282 ramjet engine has been completed to define the ramcombustor geometry, the solid fuel formulation, the fuel valve and injector design, and to verify assumed levels of engine performance. The newly expanded ARC ramjet test facility was used to simulate sea-level flight at over 2.5 times the speed of sound for this development testing.
By drawing upon past engine design and test data, ARC was able to rapidly achieve levels of performance that exceed program goals.
The MARC-R-282 engine will now progress into flight hardware, with flight-testing planned to begin late next year. These flights will represent the world's first flights of a VFDR engine, which is emerging as an important capability required to meet future U.S. weapon system propulsion requirements.
ARC is a leading developer and producer of solid propellant rocket motors, gas generators, advanced composite materials and liquid propulsion systems. ARC also produces automotive air bag inflators and supplies energetic components for the air bags from its high capacity propulsion plant in Camden, Arkansas.
Sequa Corporation is a diversified industrial company whose interests are in the fields of aerospace, propulsion, metal coating, specialty chemicals, can machinery, industrial equipment, automotive products, and men's formalwear.
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ARC Completes Ramjet Engine Test Phase For Navy GQM-163-A Missile Target
