Phoenix Missile Hypersonic Testbed (PMHT)

System Concept Overview

Thomas Jones
NASA Dryden Flight Research Center

(ARTIST’S RENDITION)

October 22, 2007

 Need and Goals
• Need:
– A low cost hypersonic research flight test capability to
increase the amount of hypersonic flight data to help
bridge the large developmental gap between ground
testing/analysis and major flight demonstrator X-
planes
• Goals:
– Develop an air launched missile booster research
testbed to:
• Accurately deliver research payloads
• Through programmable guidance
• To hypersonic test conditions
• At low cost
• With a high flight rate
 Phoenix Missile Hypersonic Testbed
Research Objectives:
• Provide subscale flight research data beyond the
envelopes of existing piloted/ unpiloted flight test
platforms – Increase the amount of flight data
• Bridges the large developmental gap between Phoenix
ground testing/analysis and major flight Platform
demonstrator X-planes
• Perform research at real flight conditions
• Test a variety of experiments with many launches
Research Approach:
• Develop low-cost super/hypersonic flight research facility using surplus AIM-54s and NASA F-15B
• Develop research payload volume (~6ft3) by removal of warhead/GNC/radar hardware
• Utilize small light-weight avionics to replace existing GNC hardware

Benefits of Approach:
• Low cost
• Guided capability allows placement of payload at desired conditions
• Launch altitude, attitude, and location are flexible
• Research payload can be checked-out in a captive-carry flight
environment at altitudes
• Leverages NASA Dryden’s existing aircraft assets and NAWC
Weapons Division’s operational experience
 PMHT Concept
• Utilize surplus AIM-54 Phoenix
missiles from US NAVY as
booster for Supersonic/
Hypersonic Flight Research
• Utilize surplus F-14 hardware
to mount Phoenix missile to
NASA F-15B
• NASA F-15B operates from
Dryden Flight Research Center
• F-15B transits to Pacific Missile
Test Range at specified launch
conditions (alt/Mach)
• Missile launch from F-15B and
internally guided to test
condition(s)
• Missile descent and
splashdown into the Pacific
PMHT would be air-launched from NASA
• Alternate mission profile could
F-15B using F-14 launch hardware from be operated over land within
within F-15B flight envelope and internally restricted airspace and impact
guided to test condition the ground for payload
recovery
 Development Objectives
• 6 ft3 of payload capacity
• Exceed (with different trajectories):
– Mach 5 with at least 500 psf dynamic pressure
or
– Dynamic pressure of 2000 psf with at least Mach 3
• Unit test cost under $500K
• Test flight rate minimum of 2 flights/year
• Utilize surplus air launched missiles and
NASA aircraft
 Possible Research Payloads
• Propulsion
– Super/hypersonic inlet flight validation
– Scramjet engine component validation including combustors and isolators
– Fundamental combustion and flameholding
• Aerodynamics
– Boundary layer laminar to turbulent transition experiment
– External burning for transonic drag reduction
– Supersonic parachute testing
• Systems
– High speed flush air data system (FADS) validation
– Avionics system flight validation
• Materials & Structures
– High temperature seals
– High temp leading edge validation
– High temp instrumentation
– TPS validation
• Guidance, Navigation, and Controls
– Hypersonic control law validation
– High speed GPS testing
– Precision impact guidance algorithms
• Science
– High altitude research
• Others?
 Possible Research Program Participants

• University Collaboration
– Interested in utilizing the ARMD NASA Research
Announcement (NRA)
• Industry Collaboration
• NASA Specific
– ARMD
– ESMD
– SMD
• Other Government Agencies
– DoD
– DARPA
– etc.
 PMHT Configuration

Theoretical Research
Payload Capability
Diameter - 15 inches
Length - 70 inches
Utilize surplus flight-proven F-14 hardware
Effective Volume - ~6 cu ft.
Allowable Weight - ~250 lbs. and NAWC-WD experience with missiles

Utilize experience with F-15B flight

test fixtures such as PFTF
AIM-54 Internal Hardware Schematic
• All internal components
removed from guidance and
armament sections to make
space for payload and new
guidance computer and INU
• Components to be removed
include warhead, old
guidance computer, and
radar tracker

15 inches

Guidance Armament Propulsion Control

Section Section Section Section
(184 lb) (184 lb) (511 lb) (144 lb)
13 feet
 PMHT Configuration
- Redesigned/Modified Hardware Potential Rear
- Unmodified Hardware Payload Space
Wings & Fins Battery
(4 of each)
Blast Tube
Exit
Cone
Propulsion
Unit

Mission Computer, Hydraulic

INU, TM, FTS Servo
Actuators (4)

Power Conditioning
& Electronic Servo
Primary Igniter Controller
Payload Safety
(57”) Mechanism
Secondary
Payload
Bulkhead between
Primary & Secondary
Payloads
 New Guidance and Armament Section Profiles
All dimensions in inches,
unless noted otherwise Primary Missile Secondary New Guidance
Launch
Payload Lug
Payload Section

Bulkhead

Guidance &
15 Armament
Sections

~57 ~12 ~20

Former Guidance Section Former Armament Section

• Payload volume consists of two areas (primary

and secondary) separated by a bulkhead at
the location of a launch lug
• All internals of guidance and armament
sections removed
• Secondary payload immediately aft of primary
• Length of secondary payload is TBD, but in
the neighborhood of 12-18 inches
• Payload instrumentation and power interfaces are TBD
 Nomenclature
Carrier Vehicle

Boost Vehicle
} Pylon Assembly
 PMHT Stack
F-15 Centerline Pylon
Phoenix Interface Plate

F-14 Phoenix Adapter

Pylon (houses the
LAU-132 launch rail)

Boost Vehicle
 Systems Concept
Carrier Vehicle Pylon Assembly Boost Vehicle

F-15B F-15 Interface F-14 Launch Phoenix Missile

Pylon Plate Pylon Rail
INU
Mission
Launch Computer
Control
System Ejection
System Hydraulic
Propulsion System
System
Power

TM Inst PA Instrumentation
Sys FTS TM

Instrumentation System

Payload Beacon
Ground
Data
Power Support
Network Equipment Power Distribution System
 PMHT Preflight Activities
• Mount the payload-integrated missile on the aircraft
• Power aircraft using external ground power
• Power Phoenix on external power via cockpit switched
power relay
• Connect Electronic Ground Servicing Equipment to boost
vehicle
– Upload guidance waypoints for planned trajectory
– Upload controller and/or payload constants
• Verify system health by monitoring from aircraft rear
cockpit display
– Payload and missile systems instrumentation data available
through on-missile data bus
• Verify INU performance
• Command MOAT (Mission on Aircraft Test) from rear
cockpit
• Ready A/C for takeoff
 Notional Ground Path

Tanker

LAUNCH
POINT
Missile data is telemetered through Western Missile Pacific Test Range
to Control Room for Immediate Data Review
 Sample Theoretical Trajectories
5
x 10
5
High Speed 3
4 High Altitude

Altitude, ft
2.5
Mach

3 2
1.5
2
1
1 0.5
0
0 ~300
Time, sec Downrange Distance

• The missile is capable of reaching useful high-

Dynamic Pressure, psf

10000 speed test conditions

– 8 seconds > mach 5.0
8000
High Q
– 50 seconds > mach 4.5
6000
– Weight reductions improve performance
• High altitude test conditions in excess of 300kft are
4000 also kinetically possible
2000
– Controllability of the store will limit this to <150kft
without additional control mechanisms
0 • High dynamic pressure test conditions are also
0 ~300
Time, sec kinetically possible
– Structural and actuator authority limitations will reduce
capability from kinetic theory
Questions?