RATTLRS

The Lockheed Martin BGM-178 RATTLRS (Revolutionary Approach To Time Critical Long Range Strike) is an advanced cruise missile concept demonstration funded by the US Navy with the view to develop technologies that would then be used to develop a successor to the BGM-109 Tomahawk.[1] It is a possible solution to hypersonic cruise missile systems for the United States.

Lockheed’s Skunk Works is the prime contractor, while Rolls Royce Liberty Works is designing the YJ102R high-Mach turbine engine. The missile's airframe bears resemblance to the Brahmos missile, and is similar in size and shape to the engine nacelle of the SR-71, or to the D-21 drone.[2] The missile's airframe design would enable it to cruise at very high speeds to strike a target over 1,000 kilometers in less than 30 minutes. The missile would be ideal for engaging on-the-move or about to move targets, and could possibly be a suitable anti-ship missile, utilizing its tremendous speed to evade enemy CIWS defenses. In comparison to the Russian-Indian BrahMOS, the RATTLRS is slightly slower, but has doubled, if not tripled the range and has a larger variety of launch platforms, since it has the capability to launch from the Mk. 41 VLS system, as well as a multitude of American aircraft.[3]

Specifications

Name: RATTLRS (Revolutionary Approach to Time Critical Long Range Strike)
Type: Long-range hypersonic cruise missile test vehicle
Developed: Lockheed Martin, Raytheon
Length: 21 ft

Diameter: 520 mm
Engine: Rolls Royce YJ102R turbojet
Warhead: 500 lbs penetrating HE or submunition dispensing warhead
Cruise speed: Mach 3+
Range: 500+ nm (1,000+ km)
Platforms: air-launched or even surface launched[4]

References

  1. ↑ Revolutionary Approach To Time Critical Long Range Strike Project (RATTLRS)
  2. ↑ Mach 3 missile advances -04/07/2006-Flight International
  3. ↑ "Munitions - World Economic Union". sites.google.com. Retrieved 2016-02-15.
  4. ↑ Popular Mechanics: It's More Powerful Than A Blackbird (And It Fits In The Trunk)


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