Rocket and ramjet powered hypersonic stealth missile having alterable radar cross section

Abstract

A missile adapted for flight at hypersonic velocities includes an engine operable in rocket and ramjet modes of operation, the engine having an inlet opening, a fuel combustion chamber in the engine housing a boost fuel and a cruise fuel, an axially movable plug located at the engine inlet opening for opening and closing the inlet opening, and a mechanism, coupled with the plug and the engine, for switching between the two modes of operation of the engine during flight of the missile. In this way, when the missile reaches a target location in its flight trajectory, the plug can be moved to close the inlet opening and shut down the ramjet operation, while also minimizing the missile radar cross section properties. The switching mechanism includes sensors for determining flight parameters and a computer for processing the flight parameters to determine when to move the plug. To achieve low weight and improved thermal protection properties, the outer skin and internal structural components of the missile are made from a cured carbon/carbon slurry.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.