MAINSTREAM ENGINEERING CORP — Department of Defense STTR Phase II: AF121-092
MAINSTREAM ENGINEERING CORP — STTR Phase II award from Department of Defense.
- Amount
- $1,617,813
- Agency
- Department of Defense · Missile Defense Agency
- Program / Phase
- STTR · Phase II
- Topic
- AF121-092
- Solicitation
- 20.1
- NAICS
- —
- Place of performance
- FL
- Period
- 2020-08-28 → 2022-08-27
Description
Forward-looking infrared seekers are the preferred guidance system for current and future hypersonic interceptors. Seeker performance is limited by the infrared window’s ability to survive and image in a high-Mach, endo-atmospheric environment where heating rates can exceed 80 W/cm². Window materials primarily fail because of thermal shock, but can also experience issues due to absorption/emission at elevated temperature and material decomposition. Because of these limitations, future seeker performance improvements require the development of advanced cooling strategies for high-speed interceptor windows. For this effort, Mainstream’s internally cooled windows will be optimized to maximize optical, thermal, and system performance in a hypersonic environment. The effort will ultimately produce a cooled window and frame for testing at a hypersonic wind tunnel. Approved for Public Release | 20-MDA-10601 (19 Oct 20)