The US Navy has just shared the live ammunition ground test screen of the hypersonic missile engine. It can be seen that it has successfully completed the first-stage solid rocket motor (SRM) test, which is one step closer to the subsequent flight test.On October 28, 2021, the agency conducted a test in Promontory, Utah, covering projects such as a thrust vector control system for maneuvering rockets in flight. New Atlas pointed out that the engine will be used in offensive hypersonic missile systems.
In order to deploy the upgraded armament system, the Navy’s Strategic System Program (SSP) project team is developing a general-purpose hypersonic missile to provide support for the development of the US military’s conventional rapid strike (CPS)/long-range hypersonic weapon (LRHW).
Ordinary hypersonic missiles need to move the launch tube and use bipolar solid rockets to raise the ordinary hypersonic glide body (CHGB) to a speed exceeding Mach 5, and then the glide body separates and dives toward the target under the action of gravity.
It is currently known that Dynetics is responsible for manufacturing the glider, and Lockheed Martin is not only responsible for the manufacture of the booster, but also the design of the assembly of the missile and launcher.
New Atlas added that this test is also SRM’s second round of live ammunition testing. The first round was carried out between May 27 and August 25, 2021 (involving the first and second levels of SRM).
The information collected during the test will help the SSP upgrade its technology to a practical level and support the development of the US Army’s surface-to-surface LRHW and the Navy’s carrier/submarine CPS missiles (the two have the same design).
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