Yar-El Posted December 5, 2008 Share Posted December 5, 2008 DARPA: Project Falcon Article I - The Falcon Program Objectives The Falcon program objectives are to develop and demonstrate hypersonic technologies that will enable prompt global reach missions. This capability is envisioned to entail a reusable Hypersonic Cruise Vehicle (HCV) capable of delivering 12,000 pounds of payload at a distance of 9,000 nautical miles from CONUS in less than two hours. The technologies required by a HCV include high lift-to-drag technologies, high temperature materials, thermal protection systems, and guidance, navigation, and control. Leveraging technology developed under the Hypersonic Flight (HyFly) program, Falcon will address the implications of hypersonic flight and reusability using a series of hypersonic technology vehicles (HTVs) to incrementally demonstrate these required technologies in flight. The HTV-2 program will demonstrate enabling hypersonic technologies for future operational systems through rocket-boosted hypersonic flights with sufficient cross-range and downrange performance to evaluate thermal protection systems, aerodynamic shapes, maneuverability, and long-range communication for hypersonic cruise and re-entry vehicle applications. The HTV-3X program will demonstrate key Hypersonic Cruise Vehicle technologies in a realistic flight environment by developing a re-usable hypersonic aircraft test bed capable of takeoff from runway under turbojet power, acceleration to Mach 6 speed under combined turbojet and scramjet propulsion, controlled deceleration, and runway landings. In order to implement this flight test program in an affordable manner, Falcon will develop a low-cost, responsive Small Launch Vehicle (SLV). The SLV will be capable of launching small satellites into low earth and sun-synchronous orbits and will provide the nation a new, small payload access to space capability. Thus, the Falcon program addresses many high priority mission areas and applications such as global presence and space lift. Article II - Hypersonic Cruise Vehicle The Government's vision of an ultimate prompt global reach capability (circa 2025 and beyond) is engendered in a reusable Hypersonic Cruise Vehicle (HCV). This autonomous aircraft would be capable of taking off from a conventional military runway and striking targets 9,000 nautical miles distant in less than two hours. It could carry a 12,000-pound payload consisting of Common Aero Vehicles (CAVs), cruise missiles, small diameter bombs or other munitions. The Government is interested in innovative HCV concepts that utilize novel technologies that mitigate heat load and extend range. Such innovative concepts could enable effective global reach missions and potentially provide the first stage of a two-stage access to space vehicle. Articles III - $750m for DARPA's Mach 6 'Blackswift' Demonstrator 2009 budget request will include $750 million for DARPA's hypersonic "Blackswift" demonstrator program. The program's aim is to develop a fighter-sized Mach 6 unmanned demonstrator. "The aircraft will be unmanned and about the size of an F-16", notes Bill Sweetman, in his Aviation Week & Space Technology Ares blog. The Blackswift is a departure for DARPA's Falcon program for the USAF, which aims at developing a Mach 25 global strike aircraft. It was previously known as the Falcon HTV-3X, but is now seperate program. A combination turbine engine and ramjet will power the demonstrator aircraft. The turbine engine accelerates the vehicle to around Mach 3 before the ramjet takes over and boosts the vehicle up to Mach 6. Last December, DARPA released a video of the HTV-3X Article IV - Pentagon Has Far-Reaching Defense Spacecraft in Works The Pentagon is working to develop a suborbital space capsule within the next five years that would be launched from the United States and could deliver conventional weapons anywhere in the world within two hours, defense officials said. This year, the Falcon program will test a launcher for its Common Aero Vehicle (CAV), an unmanned maneuverable spacecraft that would travel at five times the speed of sound and could carry 1,000 pounds of munitions, intelligence sensors or other payloads. Among the system's strengths is that commanders could order a CAV -- an unpowered glide vehicle -- not to release its payload if they decided not to follow through with an attack. The first-generation CAV, expected to be ready by 2010, will have "an incredible capability to provide the warfighter with a global reach capability against high payoff targets," Gen. Lance W. Lord, commander of Air Force Space Command, told the House Armed Services Committee last Wednesday. Talk about your leap forward in technology. Whow! Where can I buy one of these? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CommanderQ Posted December 5, 2008 Share Posted December 5, 2008 Wouldn't this information be considered confidential??? Heh heh, just kidding:D This is very interesting that such a project would be attempted. The efficiency of such a craft would exceed the standards set by the very best aircraft of the modern days. With this, our military would rule the skies! Well, at least we'd have excellent air-support... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yar-El Posted December 5, 2008 Author Share Posted December 5, 2008 I added another article. Yeah, I would think this project deserves a black ops level of security. Our military was silent about the Stealth Bomber and Aurora project since the 1940s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CommanderQ Posted December 5, 2008 Share Posted December 5, 2008 AH HA HA! These technologies sound awesome!! Soon, we'll make the Death Star!!!! {joke} Yep, such projects would normally be kept under Black Ops, that makes me think, thi could mean that the project may be near completion, then why would they release this information so quickly? Hmmm....our military is the most advance!! No rivals!! Other than the economy:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chevron 7 locke Posted December 5, 2008 Share Posted December 5, 2008 I really hope this gets the space program running again. it would be nice if this wasn't being used my the military Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alkonium Posted December 5, 2008 Share Posted December 5, 2008 I really hope this gets the space program running again. it would be nice if this wasn't being used my the military Yeah, but it sounds from the report that they plan on using it as a space based missile platform. Which really wouldn't bode well for anyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CommanderQ Posted December 5, 2008 Share Posted December 5, 2008 Well, if the base is anyones, it should be ours, we cannot trust such a design in the hands of other, more radical countries. Such war devices, if finished and put in production, probably should be kept between America and their Allies...even NATO at least...but your right, missile platforms wouldn't bode well... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rev7 Posted December 5, 2008 Share Posted December 5, 2008 That is awesome! Unfortunately I fear that machines will eventually take over what humans do, in the military. That is the bad part. I cannot wait to see what technology will be like in 20 yrs. Very cool stuff though, thanks Yar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CommanderQ Posted December 5, 2008 Share Posted December 5, 2008 Yeah, the idea of machines mostly fighting or men in lab coats pressing buttons and ending lives, well, not a good idea either way...though the way we're advancing is indeed amazing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabish Bini Posted December 5, 2008 Share Posted December 5, 2008 DARPA!! That's the name of a corporation in Metal Gear Solid. Y'know, the DARPA Chief, Donald Anderson!! That's a pretty ship, hopefully it can take us to other planets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yar-El Posted December 6, 2008 Author Share Posted December 6, 2008 That is awesome! Unfortunately I fear that machines will eventually take over what humans do, in the military. That is the bad part. I cannot wait to see what technology will be like in 20 yrs. Very cool stuff though, thanks Yar. They just cut the budget for the program; however, this maybe an indication of an operational craft. DARPA is trying to take it's existance off the books; thus, we will have to wait and see. Does anyone remember the Lockheed and Boeing competition for the next generation fighter design? Lockheed lost the competition publically; however, they won behind closed doors. Its similar to a bait and switch tactic. You make the best design fail in the public eye, but you end up funding its production without anyone knowing. We the public believe NASA, Lockheed, or Boeing failed; however, they were actually successful in a private analysis. Publically made government contracts are won like this all the time. Second place always wins. I'm watching four other projects. I will post some stuff in the forums when more is known. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcesious Posted December 6, 2008 Share Posted December 6, 2008 Cool... But they had better make that interstellar starship I've been wanting done ready to go by the time I'm 30. I don't want to just see the stars. I want to go to the stars. Robotic Based Warfare is actually benefitive for the country with the robots. It would mean no more sad stories of families devasted through soldiers dying in battle. No need to worry about robot takeover as long as someone has the kill switch. (off button) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LordOfTheFish Posted December 6, 2008 Share Posted December 6, 2008 What ever happened to plain and simple? Kidding, I for one love that technology gets better every day. This kind of stuff deeply pleases me. I'd love it if the world we know and love today became like th world in all these movies/anime we see. Maybe, wars may be fought in the future by unmaned vehicles and robots. Who knows, it just mite be possible. Oh, and I'll agree with Yar-El. Where can I get one of these things? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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