Norwegian "Nammo" will challenge the dominance of the "Onyx-M". Ramjet interceptor under the guise of RIM-162 Block II

Norwegian "Nammo" will challenge the dominance of the "Onyx-M". Ramjet interceptor under the guise of RIM-162 Block II: 

Company "Nammo" comes into a massive race in the development of the most promising means of precision weapons equipped with ramjet engines

After the first familiarization with the layout of the layout of the demonstrator UAS 155 mm Solid Fuel RamJet, presented at a wide public display during the 26th International exhibition of weapons and technologies of defense "Eurosatory 2018" conducted in June 2018, it was possible to conclude with certainty that a promising long-range projectile will be able to give not only the standard managed active-reactive shells M982 Block IA-2 (range 55-60 km), but also promising shells XM1113 and HVP ("Hyper Velocity Projectile"). The latter, with the firing of the promising tools XM907/908 length 58 caliber able to hitting targets at a distance of 75 and 115 km, respectively, at an average speed midcourse order 2900-3500 km/h.

Such a high flight characteristics of projectiles 155 mm Soild Fuel RamJet will be achieved through increased to 50 or more period of operation of the integrated RPD (with the possibility of adjusting a flow rate of a solid propellant charge in the combustion chamber to prolong the operation of the engine), and by 35 percent reduce aerodynamic drag, achieved by passing the oncoming airflow via the "free" path integral RAPS. "Free" trakt ICD represented by the intake ducts and the duct into the contour of the combustion chamber. Thus, promising "once-through" shell from the "Nammo" will have higher speed and kinetic energy at the terminal phase of their trajectory (right before hitting the target) than the standard active-reactive artillery shells equipped with bottom gas generators with solid-fuel booster charges.

Meanwhile, the "ramjet" rocket-assisted projectile 155 mm Soild Fuel RamJet is not the only brainchild of the "Nammo", which embodies promising developments in the design of a compact supersonic and hypersonic ramjet engines.
According to the eminent British news and military analysis portal janes.com referring to a source in the headquarters of the "Nammo Raufoss", the company's specialists proceeded with the development of advanced interceptor missile equipped with a more "torquey" modification of the integral rocket-ramjet engine SFRJ (Solid Fuel RamJet). Starting from the first photos of the layout of the demonstrator of the new missile, but also from the fact that the study concept is supported by the Norwegian Institute for defence studies (Forsvartes forskningsinstitutt) and the research laboratory of the U.S. Navy, it can be concluded that a promising rocket can be developed in the forthcoming re-equipment of multichannel NSSM naval air defense missile system Mk 57 mod 12/13 on "high-energy" missiles of medium / long range. The range and flight performance qualities of the latter should significantly surpass the performance of the SAM family of RIM-162 ESSM Block I/II.

Moreover, the aerodynamic layout of prospective missiles, designed according to the diagram "lifting body", is of great similarity with the family of RIM-162 "Evolved Sea Sperrow", and it is an eloquent proof that the project is tightly managed by the Pentagon and the Department at "Raytheon Missile Systems" in the interests of naval forces of the United States. In particular, advanced missiles-the interceptor from the Norwegian "Nammo", and "raceonusa" RIM-162 ESSM Block I/II has four developed wings ultra low elongation, placed along the entire length of the hull and contributes to the reduction of aerodynamic drag while maintaining the principle qualities of the body. This design allows the anti-aircraft guided the missile to maintain a more or less acceptable maneuverability to intercept the target even when slowing to 1.3—1.5 m in the terminal phase of their trajectory.

It is Also known that for effective interception of advanced air and space attack aircraft performing maneuvers with congestion 30-35 units, the interceptor missile must have have overloads 62—70G. The implementation of this quality in prospective offspring "Nammo" contributes to the presence of gas-jet system deviation of the thrust vector of a type of TVC that successfully used in the control system architecture missiles RIM-162 ESSM Block II, complementing the extremely compact tail aerodynamic control surfaces. At the same time the Norwegian "straight-through" version of the Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile from the integrated RPD SFRJ will be able to give odds to any of the existing modifications of anti-aircraft missiles RIM-162. How?

While system of a deviation of the thrust vector standard missiles RIM-162 ESSM remains effective only for a short period of burn-in charge dual-mode solid rocket motor Mk 134 Mod0 (after which the management involved only aerodynamic control surfaces, providing "Sea sparrows" overload, no more than 30 to 35G), ramjet missiles from the WFD perspective"Nammo" allows the system OVT to function for almost the entire flight path, including flight footage. This ability is ensured by the vehicle engine type "Solid Fuel RamJet" computerized regulating system fuel supply into the combustion chamber through a special valve in the nozzle of the gas generator, which increases the period of operation of the engine SFRJ to 300-350 C.

Thus, the maneuverability of the company-developed "Nammo" anti-aircraft missiles of the new generation will be even near the extreme boundaries of the range (70-100 km), while the highest quality maneuverable missiles of a family of RIM-162 are implemented no more than 15-20 km from the ship launcher. As for additional advantages, due to the promising Norwegian Suhr integral rocket-ramjet engine, here we are talking about internal architecture "messevideo" inlet type "shark mouth" and the in-vessel location of air ducts that go into the contour of the combustion chamber.

Such a perfect and ingenious Seating configuration of IBD in the future will allow the child "Nammo" to save weight and size characteristics required for adaptation to use in chetvertnykh transport-launch containers Mk 26 placed in the cell universal vertical PU Mk 41 aegis-frigates/destroyers and cruisers "Fritjof Nansen", "Arleigh Burke", "Kongo" and "Ticonderoga", or as part of a modular vertical PU Mk 48, installed on numerous surface ships not equipped with combat information and control system "aegis".br>

It is Logical to assume that the successful formation of the project of promising anti-aircraft missile medium-range missiles from "Nammo" with rocket-ramjet engine type SFRJ can become a serious challenge for modern Russian anti-ship missiles "Onyx" and "Onyx-M", which can be intercepted even in pursuit. Staffing anti-aircraft missiles ESSM Block I/II do not have such abilities.


SFRJ-powered surface-to-air interceptor

Nammo Raufoss has disclosed development of an advanced solid-fuel ramjet (SFRJ) engine designed to deliver augmented speed up to hypersonic level and range for missiles and artillery shells. An internally funded initiative, the new engine technology is being developed in co-operation with the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (Forsvarets forskningsinstitutt - FFI) and US Navy research laboratories.

Ramjet propulsion uses a missile's forward motion to compress incoming atmospheric oxygen, drawn through an integrated air intake, instead of the oxidiser used in solid-propellant motors. "In a traditional rocket motor, the oxidiser accounts for 80% of the fuel weight," Frank Møller, vice-president of strategy and business development, aerospace propulsion at Nammo Raufoss explained to Jane's . "But if you are flying in the atmosphere, why not use the oxygen from outside and save that 80%? This means you can have a much smaller missile, but with great range because the weight of the oxydiser is removed from the equation."

"When the missile reaches the right velocity - approximately Mach 2.5 - the oxygen pressure and temperature is high enough and the air intake functions as a compressor and auto-ignites the propellant," said Møller. "So, the 'booster' is built into the missile itself, and during flight it transitions from a traditional solid-fuelled rocket to an air-breathing system. In air-breathing mode the missile is capable of reaching between Mach 3.5 to Mach 5," he added, noting that a SFRJ missile can have a burn time of up to 300 seconds and be throttled up and down.

Møller said the company has conducted more than 200 tests with the SFRJ technology at its centre in Raufoss, Norway, simulating speeds from Mach 3 to Mach 5 from sea level up to 50,000 ft. Source janes.com