DARPA chooses propulsion tech for Glide Breaker hypersonic interceptor
NewsFebruary 11, 2020
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. Aerojet Rocketdyne has won a contract worth up to $19.6 million from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to develop enabling technologies for its advanced hypersonic defense interceptor, known as Glide Breaker.
According to company information, Aerojet Rocketdyne supplies solid-fueled and air-breathing, propulsion systems for hypersonic flight; it has provided both types of systems for the joint Air Force-DARPA-NASA X-51A WaveRider and has also completed a battery of subscale test firings as part of DARPA's OpFires program, which aims to develop a ground-launched hypersonic missile for tactical use.
DARPA officials state that the Glide Breaker program intends to advance the U.S.'s means to counter hypersonic vehicles by way of developing and demonstrating technology critical for enabling an advanced interceptor capable of engaging maneuvering hypersonic threats in the upper atmosphere.
