NationStates Jolt Archive


High speed theater ballistic missile under development

11-01-2004, 03:46
Secret IIC:

The Dodekistan Research Institute (DRI) is beginning research into a hypersonic ballistic missile. It is called Project Thor.

The missile will be initially boosted by standard solid rocket boosters, pushing the rocket to mach 2. At this point the boosters break away and the scramjet engine takes over. It is fueled by liquid hydrogen. The scramjet engine is to accelerate the missile to approximately mach 10, where the warhead will separate from the body of the missile, and takes on a ballistic trajectory. The range will be approximately 200 miles.

During the boost phase, the missile can correct its flight. Additionally, once the warhead has seperated from the missile, fins will be able to correct the ballistic path of the warhead, making it accurate to within 30 feet.

The primary warhead for the missile will be the molten magnesium/potassium perchlorate bomb developed for the Vanguard bomber weighing 4,000lbs. The heat created by the air resistance of the boost phase and the subsequent acceleration back down to earth liquifies the fuel oxidizer mixture, which is detonated just above the target, creating a massive heat and blast wave.

This project is expected to take approximately 1 year, with full production of the missile beginning 1 year later.
11-01-2004, 03:55
bump
11-01-2004, 22:28
After approximately 1 year of design work, DRI has built two mobile launching platforms and 4 test missiles. The stats are as follows...

http://server5.uploadit.org/files2/110104-missile.JPG

Length: 50 feet
Diameter: fuselage: 2 feet
air intake: 3.5 feet

Maximum range: 200 nm
Maxiumum velocity: mach 9.5
Maximum payload: one 4,000 lb molten magnesium/ammonium perchlorate warhead or 4,000 lbs of antipersonnel cluster munitions.

Accuracy: within 30 feet of intended target

Thiocal Defense Systems has been contracted to produce 500 missiles and 250 launchers, then produce 500 missiles and 100 launchers per year for the next 4 years.

Each unit (2 missiles and 1 launcher) costs $8.7 million.