Predict Signatures of Hypersonic Cruise Missiles

RT&L FOCUS AREA(S): Hypersonics TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Air Platform; Information Systems The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services, including export of sensitive technical data, or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR), 15 CFR Parts 730-774, which controls dual use items. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals (FNs), their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the statement of work (SOW) tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s) in accordance with section 3.5 of the Announcement. Offerors are advised foreign nationals proposed to perform on this topic may be restricted due to the technical data under US Export Control Laws. OBJECTIVE: Develop software tools to predict signatures (Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR), Radio Frequency (RF), and/or Acoustic) of hypersonic cruise missiles, based on Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and accounting for turbulence, chemically reactive flow, propellant exhaust chemistry, radiative heat transfer, RF propagation, and acoustics. DESCRIPTION: To address the evolving hypersonic threat, the government desires software tools to predict signatures (EO/IR, RF, and/or Acoustic) of hypersonic cruise missiles, accounting for aerothermal heating, wake flow, propulsion plumes, and ablation. The government envisions the use of CFD software to predict the flight environment of a maneuvering cruise missile system, along with gas-flow chemistry and vehicle material-response computations, plus radiation transport (EO/IR) and RF propagation capabilities. Tools should handle realistic missile geometries and propulsion systems for sustained powered flight (tens of minutes) in the Mach 5 to 10 range at mid-stratospheric altitudes. The government envisions non-real time, high-fidelity solutions. Ultimately, the government desires tools that will support, acquisition, track, and trajectory prediction for hypersonic cruise missiles (modeling and simulation, as well as operational). PHASE I: Develop concepts for new and/or enhanced-existing computational tools to predict aero-thermal effects and signatures for hypersonic cruise missile systems. The contractor should identify strengths/weaknesses associated with alternative solutions, methods, and concepts. Demonstrate credibility of proposed computational and validation approaches. Computational experimentation using simple nominal, unclassified shapes is suitable in this phase. PHASE II: Develop and validate computational tools to support hypersonic cruise missile signature predictions. Tools should account for features and aerodynamic wakes from complex geometries and control surfaces. Provide a performance analysis of the planned computational capability (i.e., computer resource requirements). Complete executable code for the developed signature-prediction toolset, and an operator manual. Develop and implement verification and validation of the toolset. The contractor is expected to become familiar with hypersonic cruise missile test flights and realistic trajectories. Coordinate development efforts with the government, and/or potential prime-contractor partners, to ensure product relevance and compatibility with missile defense projects and government modeling and simulation systems. Portions of the Phase II effort are likely to be classified. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Collaborate with simulation model developer(s) and/or user(s) on integration of product(s) into a missile defense application. Optimize toolset to accommodate new advances in the technology of tracking and prediction of cruise missile flight. Transition the technology to an appropriate government or defense contractor for integration and testing. Integrate and validate the functional signature tools into a real-world missile defense application. REFERENCES: 1. J. Letsinger, Hypersonic Global Strike Feasibility and Options, Air War College Research Paper, Air University, Maxwell AFB Alabama, February 2012. ; 2. J.J. Bertin, RM Cummings. Fifty Years of Hypersonic, Where We've Been, Where We're Going. Progress in Aerospace Sciences, Vol. 39: 511 536, 2003. ; 3. Candler, Johnson, Nompelis, Gidzak, Subbareddy, and Barnhardt. January 2015. Development of the US3D Code for Advanced Compressible and Reacting Flow Simulations. AIAA-2015-1893, AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting, Kissimmee, FL. ; 4. J.D. Anderson, Hypersonic and High-Temperature Gas Dynamics 2nd Edition. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Reston, VA 2006. ; 5. D. Van Wie, S. D'Alessio, M. White, Hypersonic Airbreathing Propulsion. Johns Hopkins APL Technical Digest, Volume 26, No. 4: 430-437, 2005. ; 6. J. McNamara, P. Friedmann, Aeroelastic and Aerothermoelastic Analysis in Hypersonic Flow: Past, Present, and Future. AIAA Journal; Vol. 49, No. 6: 1089-1122, 2011.