1. Distribution A: Cleared for Public Release, SAF/PA 2010-0865
Air Force High Speed Science and Technology Plan AIAA New Horizons Forum 7 Jan 11
Dr. Steven Walker
SAF/AQR
Deputy Assistant Secretary
(Science, Technology, & Engineering)
Distribution A: Cleared for Public Release, SAF/PA

2. Distribution A: Cleared for Public Release, SAF/PA 2010-0865
Overview
Current program status
High Speed Weapon roadmap
High Speed Aircraft roadmap
Distribution A: Cleared for Public Release, SAF/PA

3. Distribution A: Cleared for Public Release, SAF/PA 2010-0865
X-51A Program Objective
Flight test the AF Hypersonic Technology (HyTech) scramjet engine, using endothermic hydrocarbon fuel, by accelerating a vehicle from boost (~M=4.5) to Mach 6+
Acquire ground and flight data on an actively cooled, self-controlled operating scramjet engine (rules and tools development)
Demonstrate viability of an endothermically fueled scramjet in flight
Prove viability of a free-flying, scramjet powered, vehicle (Thrust > Drag)
Distribution A: Cleared for Public Release, SAF/PA

4. Distribution A: Cleared for Public Release, SAF/PA 2010-0865
X-51A First Flight 26 May 10
Sequence of events:
Release at 49,500 ft, Mach 0.78 (nominal)
Clean release from B-52
Successful booster ignition after 4.04 sec
Boost to 58,200 ft, Mach 4.85
Booster separation (nominal)
Engine ignition at 61,300 ft, Mach 4.74
Successful scramjet light on ethylene
Successful transition to full JP-7 operation
Climb and acceleration (~0.15g) to 62,300 ft, Mach 4.88 (uncorrected)
Engine performance nominal
Fuel system control & cooling as expected
Vehicle bank and sideslip observed
Engine bay elevated temperatures
Loss of telemetry at 210 seconds
Vehicle still accelerating
Flight terminated as planned 5 seconds after loss of telemetry
Distribution A: Cleared for Public Release, SAF/PA

5. X-51A Flight Significance
X-51A first flight culminated a 7-year program to demonstrate viability of fuel-cooled scramjet engines
Significant accomplishment for science and military
143 sec of continuous scramjet operation time in flight
11X previous record of 13 seconds
4X total scramjet operation time of ~35 seconds from all previous flights in the world
Definitively demonstrated airbreathing hypersonic vehicle acceleration (Thrust > Drag)
Demonstrated flight-weight hardware using fuel cooling to maintain thermal balance
Demonstrated practical scramjet operation using storable jet fuel vs. cryogenic hydrogen
Collected valuable clean-air data for “rules and tools” development
Distribution A: Cleared for Public Release, SAF/PA

6. Distribution A: Cleared for Public Release, SAF/PA 2010-0865
Overview
Current program status
High Speed Weapon roadmap
High Speed Aircraft roadmap
Distribution A: Cleared for Public Release, SAF/PA

7. Survivable, High Speed Weapon Enabling Capabilities
Hypersonic Air Vehicle and Propulsion Technologies Enable Long Range at High Speed with Effective Payload
Aircraft Systems
Internal bombers
External fighters
Precision Strike
Variable Warhead Effects
Net Enabled
In-Flight Targetable
Long Range
High Speed
Rapid, Responsive Strike in Anti-Access/Access Denied (A2/AD) Environments
Distribution A: Cleared for Public Release, SAF/PA

8. High Speed Weapon Roadmap
Fiscal Year
FY10
FY11
FY12
FY13
FY14
FY15
FY16
FY17
FY18
FY19
FY20
TOTAL
Warhead
Integration
Demo Tasks
Platform integration
X-51A+ (scramjet)
Warhead integration
Terminal Guidance 5
Configuration and Trade Study 5
Technology Readiness Level
Transition Point (TAD)
Tactical Propulsion 5
Advanced Guidance for Surface
Targets 5
Strike up to
100s of miles
High Speed Weapon Demo 6
TECHNOLOGY GAPS
High Speed Multimode Seekers
Anti Jam GPS
Alternative high speed guidance (GPS denied environment)
Compact energetic booster
Aeroconfiguration, structures and materials, control surfaces, TPS
Compatibility with current and emerging fighters and bombers
Compatibility with Navy/VLS
Distribution A: Cleared for Public Release, SAF/PA

9. Distribution A: Cleared for Public Release, SAF/PA 2010-0865
High Speed Weapon
FY16 Demonstration
Flight Test - Option A
Mach 4+ cruise
X-51 Airframe and flow path
Alternate fuel
Hit a fixed target down range at unpowered terminal speed
4 flight tests (6 Test articles)
Validate the cold start
Max range
Target attack
Tactical ingress and attack
Inert warhead
Seeker window
Sensors/Materials investment
Weapon Data Link
In-flight target updates
Pros
Limited capability
Lowest cost
Cons
Limited aircraft compatibility
Distribution A: Cleared for Public Release, SAF/PA

10. Distribution A: Cleared for Public Release, SAF/PA 2010-0865
High Speed Weapon
FY16 Demonstration
Flight Test - Option B
Mach 4+ cruise
X-51 Airframe
Tactically compliant launch envelope (Alt & Mach)
Alternate fuel
Tactical optimized flow path *
Hit a fixed target down range at unpowered terminal speed
4 flight tests (6 Test articles)
Validate the flow path/cold start
Max range
Target attack
Tactical ingress and attack
Inert warhead
Seeker window
Sensors/Materials investment
Weapon Data Link
In-flight target updates
Pros
Cruiser/flow path Tactically compliant
Possible Quick Reaction Capability
Cons
Moderate cost
Limited aircraft compatibility
* Leverage Program
Distribution A: Cleared for Public Release, SAF/PA

11. Distribution A: Cleared for Public Release, SAF/PA 2010-0865
High Speed Weapon
FY16 Demonstration
Flight Test - Option C
Mach 4+ cruise
Tactically compliant launch envelope (Alt & Mach)
Alternate fuel
New airframe mold line
Tactically sized booster *
Tactical optimized flow path *
Hit a fixed target down range at unpowered terminal speed
4 flight tests (6 Test articles)
Validate the flow path/cold start
Max range
Target attack
Tactical ingress and attack
Inert warhead
Seeker window
Sensors/Materials investment
Weapon Data Link
In-flight target updates
Pros
Tactically compliant weapons system
Cons
Highest cost
* Leverage Program
Distribution A: Cleared for Public Release, SAF/PA

12. Distribution A: Cleared for Public Release, SAF/PA 2010-0865
Overview
Current program status
High Speed Weapon roadmap
High Speed Aircraft roadmap
Distribution A: Cleared for Public Release, SAF/PA

13. High Speed Aircraft Capabilities and Attributes
Operation in A2/AD Environments
Penetrate Denied Areas (Survivable)
Large ground coverage area
High utility in space-denied areas
Turbine Based Combined Cycle
Mach 4+ Cruise
Runway Takeoff and Landing
Reusable, Long-Life Airframe
On-Demand Flight in A2/AD Environments
Distribution A: Cleared for Public Release, SAF/PA

14. High Speed Aircraft 2021 Demonstrator Objectives
Gas Turbine-to-Dual Mode Ramjet Transition
Mach 4+ Cruise for minutes
Mach 0-4+ Acceleration
Limited Life at Higher Mach Cruise
Aircraft Operation
Takeoff, Landing, Control
Maneuvering (Level Turn)
Subscale Airframe, Half or Full-Scale Flowpath
Testbed Secondary Objectives (2022-’23)
CMC Structures
Advanced Power/Thermal Management
Sensors
Affordability Trades and Initiatives
Distribution A: Cleared for Public Release, SAF/PA

15. High Speed Aircraft Roadmap
FY08
FY09
FY10
FY11
FY12
FY13
FY14
FY15
FY16
FY17
FY18
FY19
FY20
FY21
FY22
FY23
HTV-3X 4
Advanced Power Gen
Power Gen
Development 4
System
Testing 5
Flight Design Power
Development/Test 5
Technology Readiness Level
Transition Point (TAD)
CMC Structures
Low Cost/Light Wt Hi Speed Structures 5
FRV Structural
Concept Assess
Flt Structure Component /
Subsystem Development
FaCET 4
MoTr
“TBCC Integration” 5
Prior Robust Scramjet
Robust Scramjet
Enabling Technologies for Operational Vehicle
Mission Analysis, Requirements, Vision
Vehicle and FRV Concept Design
TBCC Flight Research Vehicle
Development and Integration
Flight
Test
Flying Test Bed
Evaluations 6
Distribution A: Cleared for Public Release, SAF/PA

16. Distribution A: Cleared for Public Release, SAF/PA 2010-0865
Overview
Current program status
High Speed Weapon roadmap
High Speed Aircraft roadmap
Distribution A: Cleared for Public Release, SAF/PA