Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!att!cbnews!military From: cga66@ihlpy.att.com (Patrick V Kauffold) Newsgroups: sci.military Subject: Stealth missile HD-2 Keywords: missile stealth Message-ID: <1990Oct2.234914.22975@cbnews.att.com> Date: 2 Oct 90 23:49:14 GMT Sender: military-request@att.att.com Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories Lines: 55 Approved: military@att.att.com From: cga66@ihlpy.att.com (Patrick V Kauffold) (Excerpts from Naval Institute Proceedings, October 90, "Air-to Air Stealth Missile") "Have-Dash 2" (HD-2) is an experimental stealthy missile intended to replace the AIM-120 and AIM-7. HD-2 is shaped to blend into the exterior of stealth fighters without adding to the radar cross- section of the fighter. Development of the HD-2 is believed to be the reason the US withdrew from the ASRAAM program (to replace the AIM-9). HD-2 may be a "black" program which exceeds the ASRAAM performance specs. Advantage of the stealthy AA missile is the saving of internal space in the fighter (if no increase in radar cross-section), plus increased difficulty for the target to detect the incoming missile. The design addresses the current warning technologies used by enemy aircraft which rely on short-range Doppler radar, radar warning receivers, and IR detectors to warn of incoming missiles. The HD2 will be radar and IR guided with high-impulse, short burn motor, coasting some distance to the target; this eliminates radar emissions, reduces heat plume from motor, and would require higher radar energy from the target to detect the low cross-section missile. HD-2 is "stealthy" due to combination of shape and use of radar- absorbent materials. HD-2 has a flat underside, and is to be carried above, rather than below, the fuselage(?). The flat underside provides some degree of lift. Upper sides are flat, giving it a triangular shape. [this sounds contradictory - flat underside would fit flush with flat underside of the fighter or wing - how do you fit a triangle smoothly with the upper surface?] [mod.note: Regardless of the orientation to the wing, the missile's underside faces the ground. A flat underside would then fit flush against the upper side of a wing. To fit flush beneath the wing, the *upper*side would have to be flat. - Bill ] HD-2 has four folding tail fins. Combination of lifting body, fin configuration, and new bank-to-turn autopilot should permit maneuvering at 50g (vs. 35g for current weapons). New missile will have "inertial reference system" and a new "navigation- intercept computer". Missile uses a combination of active/passive radar and IR seeker. Airframe is non-metallic (graphite polymide) which is radar-absorbent. Missile length is 12 feet, total weight 400 lb. Speed in Mach 4 range. Ford Aerospace is the prime contractor to produce 3 recoverable missiles, to be tested in 1992.