Northrop Grumman is giving US Army missiles an unusual advantage: the ability to breathe.
Its new solid-fuel ramjet draws oxygen from the atmosphere, freeing internal space for more fuel and reducing the amount of oxidizer the weapon needs to carry.
That extra room for fuel could help the missile fly farther while retaining more energy to engage highly maneuverable airborne threats at greater distances.
According to the company, the effort also includes ground and flight testing to validate the ramjet’s design and production processes.
These tests will help refine the final design for scalable, low-cost manufacturing and rapid delivery to meet defense requirements.
“The rapid evolution of unmanned aerial threats demands innovative solutions,” said Erik Buice, vice president of missile products at Northrop Grumman.
“By aligning the Army’s vision for next-generation air defense with our advanced propulsion expertise, we’re delivering capability that engages targets farther away, protects mobile forces and strengthens layered defense against emerging aerial threats.”
Backed by $18.8 Million
Once developed, the system will be integrated into a missile prototype under the US Army’s eXtended Range Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System (XRC) program.
The XRC program aims to improve the service’s Maneuver Short Range Air Defense system, which protects maneuvering forces against low-altitude aerial threats.
Northrop received an $18.8-million contract from the US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation & Missile Center for the effort.
The work will take place at the company’s Allegany Ballistics Laboratory in West Virginia, a facility focused on advanced propulsion systems and energetics.
“With adversaries increasingly deploying sophisticated unmanned systems, the XRC program’s extended-range capabilities is a vital element within the Army’s layered air defense strategy,” the company stated.
