The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has awarded Boeing (NYSE:BA) a contract worth $70.6 million to proceed to the second phase of the Glide Breaker hypersonic interceptor program, according to an announcement. The award comes after initial contracts for the base phase were given to Aerojet and Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) in early 2020.
Boeing's role in this phase, due for completion by February 2027, involves conducting computational fluid dynamics analyses, wind tunnel tests, and evaluating aerodynamic jet interaction effects during flight tests. Maj. Nathan Greiner, program manager, stated that Phase II aims to "develop the technical understanding of jet interactions necessary to enable the design of propulsion control systems for a future operational gliding interceptor vehicle."
The Glide Breaker program is uniquely designed to engage hypersonic threats during their glide phase - the longest phase between launch and terminal engagement of the weapon. This approach differentiates it from other missile defense systems like Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), which is limited in its effectiveness against hypersonic missiles due to its "hit-to-kill" approach and design to intercept missiles in limited areas and at higher altitudes.
Hypersonic missiles, capable of traveling at speeds exceeding Mach 5 and changing trajectory mid-flight, pose a significant threat to U.S. security. Not only do they possess immense destructive potential due to their kinetic energy, but their speed also renders current defensive measures almost obsolete. Hypersonic threats include advanced systems like Russia's "Avangard" and China's "Staryy Sky," known for their exceptional speed and maneuverability.
In response to these challenges, DARPA's Glide Breaker program is developing interception technologies that focus on understanding and controlling jet interactions at hypersonic speeds. According to Gil Griffin, executive director of Boeing Phantom Works Advanced Weapons, this phase will determine 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.
The ultimate goal of DARPA's Glide Breaker program is to develop a device capable of launching from the ground using a divert-and-attitude-control-system-propelled kill vehicle to neutralize enemy hypersonic weapons. The program's advancement represents a significant step in the U.S. military's efforts to counter the emerging threat of hypersonic weapons.
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