Orbital

American aerospace and defence technologies solution provider Orbital ATK has opened a new air test facility called Ramjet Test Facility at Allegany Ballistics Laboratory (ABL) in Rocket Center, West Virginia.

The company announced it successfully completed final validation and tests for the facility.

This facility aims to provide a real-time, variable mass flow rate and temperature-based clear air testing environment that simulates supersonic flight conditions.

ABL is at a site owned by Naval Sea Systems Command, which provided funding for the new facility.

The Ramjet test facility is capable of accurately reproducing the operational envelope of tactical air-breathing solid propulsion systems with air mass flow simulating up to Mach 4.5 and temperatures of up to 1,500F°.

"This new facility is a national asset, providing the means to test next-generation missile propulsion components."

It also offers real-world simulation with a clean air environment free of combustion byproducts.

Orbital ATK Defence Systems general manager Pat Nolan said: "This new facility is a national asset, providing the means to test next-generation missile propulsion components.

"We have the ability to ‘fly a mission’ during test, which reduces costs associated with conducting multiple point tests."

Ramjet test facility is the latest addition to Orbital ATK’s scramjet test aerothermal research facility in New York.

The aerothermal research and test facility, New York is specialised in advanced development and validation of hypersonic systems.

The company’s defence systems group offers 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.

Image: Orbital ATK has opened a new air test facility called Ramjet Test Facility at Allegany Ballistics Laboratory (ABL) in Rocket Center, West Virginia. Photo: courtesy of Business Wire.