|
Pintle Nozzle With Integral Thrust Vector ControlWickman Spacecraft & Propulsion Company |
|
Tactical missiles need to control their speed and be able to steer to a wide variety of targets. They usually control their speed with thrust management via pintle nozzles and steer with movable fins. Additional steering is often provided with jet vanes that provide thrust vector control (TVC). If WSPC's innovative nozzle was incorporated in the PAM missile (NLOS) system, the missile's range would be increased by at least 12 %, its delivered specific impulse would be increased by 2% and its velocity would be increased by 10%, while maintaining or improving the PAM's maneuverability.
This new pintle nozzle with integral TVC could be used on almost every tactical missile in the U.S. inventory. Its ability to increase range and speed along with maneuverability would find application in ground to air, air to air, air to ground and ground to ground missiles. It could also be used with a solid rocket motor as the fourth stage in ICBMs or in Small Launch Vehicles rather than liquid systems. The switch to a solid system would lower maintenance cost and reduce response time. WSPC will demonstrate the new pintle nozzle through cold flow testing, solid rocket motor tests and a tactical missile sized motor firing in 2008 at Army facilities with a typical TVC duty cycle. The final static firing will be verification that WSPC's innovative pintle nozzle is ready to enhance America's tactical missile capability. WSPC Pintle Nozzle With Thrust Vector Control Features
|