New Ramjet Test Facility to Offer More Realistic Environment for
Supersonic Flight Simulations
DULLES, Va.Oct. 19, 2015--
Orbital ATK (NYSE: OA), a global leader in aerospace and defense
technologies, announced today that it has successfully completed the
final validation and testing for its new clean air Ramjet Test Facility
at the Allegany Ballistics Laboratory (ABL) in Rocket Center, West
Virginia. This facility is one of few in the United States with a
clear-air testing environment for flying trajectories on the stand with
real-time, variable mass flow-rate and temperature. ABL is housed at the
site owned by Naval Sea Systems Command, which committed funding to the
new facility.
Orbital ATK conducts a live air-breathing solid rocket motor test in its new Ramjet Test Facility at the Allegany Ballistics Laboratory (ABL) in Rocket Center, West Virginia. This test simulated flight conditions of Mach 3.5 at 50,000 feet for a 5-inch ramjet assisted projectile. (Photo: Business Wire)
Orbital ATK s Ramjet Test Facility accurately replicates the operational
envelope of tactical air-breathing solid propulsion systems with air
mass flow simulating up to Mach 4.5 and temperatures up to 1,500 degrees
Fahrenheit. This facility provides real-world simulation with a
clean-air environment free of combustion byproducts.
This new facility is a national asset, providing the means to test next
generation missile propulsion components, said Pat Nolan, Vice
President and General Manager of Orbital ATK s Missile Products Division
of the Defense Systems Group. We have the ability to fly a mission
during test, which reduces costs associated with conducting multiple
point tests.
This new facility complements Orbital ATK s already extensive scramjet
test capabilities, highlighted by its Aerothermal Research and Test
facility in Ronkonkoma, New York, specializing in advanced development
and validation of hypersonic systems.
Orbital ATK s Defense Systems Group is an industry leader in providing
innovative and affordable precision and strike weapons, advanced
propulsion and hypersonics, missile components across air-, sea- and
land-based systems, ammunition and related energetic products.
About Orbital ATK
Orbital ATK is a global leader in aerospace and defense technologies.
The company designs, builds and delivers space, defense and aviation
systems for customers around the world, both as a prime contractor and
merchant supplier. Its main products include launch vehicles and related
propulsion systems; missile products, subsystems and defense
electronics; precision weapons, armament systems and ammunition;
satellites and associated space components and services; and advanced
aerospace structures. Headquartered in Dulles, Virginia, Orbital ATK
employs more than 12,000 people in 18 states across the United States
and in several international locations. For more information, visit www.orbitalatk.com.
Source: Orbital ATK
Orbital ATK
Media Contact:
Bryan Kidder, 410-864-4932
Defense
Systems Group Communications
bryan.kidder@orbitalatk.com
or
Investor
Contact:
Barron Beneski, 703-406-5528
Public and Investor
Relations
barron.beneski@orbitalatk.com