Stealth missile HD-2

[Patrick V Kauffold]

From: cg...@ihlpy.att.com (Patrick V Kauffold)
(Excerpts from Naval Institute Proceedings, October 90,
"Air-to Air Stealth Missile")

"Have-Dash 2" (HD-2) is an experimental stealthy missile intended
to replace the AIM-120 and AIM-7. HD-2 is shaped to blend into
the exterior of stealth fighters without adding to the radar cross-
section of the fighter.

Development of the HD-2 is believed to be the reason the US withdrew
from the ASRAAM program (to replace the AIM-9). HD-2 may be a
"black" program which exceeds the ASRAAM performance specs.

Advantage of the stealthy AA missile is the saving of internal
space in the fighter (if no increase in radar cross-section),
plus increased difficulty for the target to detect the incoming
missile. The design addresses the current warning technologies
used by enemy aircraft which rely on short-range Doppler radar,
radar warning receivers, and IR detectors to warn of incoming missiles.
The HD2 will be radar and IR guided with high-impulse, short
burn motor, coasting some distance to the target; this eliminates
radar emissions, reduces heat plume from motor, and would require
higher radar energy from the target to detect the low cross-section
missile.

HD-2 is "stealthy" due to combination of shape and use of radar-
absorbent materials. HD-2 has a flat underside, and is to be carried
above, rather than below, the fuselage(?). The flat underside provides
some degree of lift. Upper sides are flat, giving it a triangular
shape. [this sounds contradictory - flat underside would fit flush
with flat underside of the fighter or wing - how do you fit a
triangle smoothly with the upper surface?]

[mod.note: Regardless of the orientation to the wing, the missile's
underside faces the ground. A flat underside would then fit flush
against the upper side of a wing. To fit flush beneath the wing,
the *upper*side would have to be flat. - Bill ]

HD-2 has four folding
tail fins. Combination of lifting body, fin configuration, and
new bank-to-turn autopilot should permit maneuvering at 50g (vs. 35g
for current weapons).

New missile will have "inertial reference system" and a new "navigation-
intercept computer". Missile uses a combination of active/passive
radar and IR seeker.

Airframe is non-metallic (graphite polymide) which is radar-absorbent.
Missile length is 12 feet, total weight 400 lb. Speed in Mach 4 range.

Ford Aerospace is the prime contractor to produce 3 recoverable
missiles, to be tested in 1992.

[Intelsat VI right thruster cluster]

From: gwh%typhoon.Be...@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU (Intelsat VI right thruster cluster)

In article <1990Oct2.2...@cbnews.att.com> cg...@ihlpy.att.com (Patrick V Kauffold) writes:
>Development of the HD-2 is believed to be the reason the US withdrew
>from the ASRAAM program (to replace the AIM-9). HD-2 may be a
>"black" program which exceeds the ASRAAM performance specs.

Simply untrue. HD-2 is a technology development program, not a prototype
missile. ASRAAM was cancelled because it was over 5 years behind schedule,
not oging anywhere, and someone pointed out that the Sidewinder could be made
to do everything ASRAAM was going to, for cheaper...

>higher radar energy from the target to detect the low cross-section
>missile.

Umm...no. Missiles in general are too small to pick up on radar. It's
stealthy so the plane carrying it doesn't show up better with the missile
attached.

>HD-2 is "stealthy" due to combination of shape and use of radar-
>absorbent materials. HD-2 has a flat underside, and is to be carried
>above, rather than below, the fuselage(?). The flat underside provides
>some degree of lift. Upper sides are flat, giving it a triangular

>...

>[mod.note: Regardless of the orientation to the wing, the missile's
>underside faces the ground. A flat underside would then fit flush
>against the upper side of a wing. To fit flush beneath the wing,
>the *upper*side would have to be flat. - Bill ]

the 'above the fuselage' stuff is inaccurate...there were discussions
about it that were abandoned due to seperation difficulties.

The missile is carried upside down. It's not triangular, it's trapezoidal...
horizontal top and bottom and sloped sides.

Aviation week had a longish article on it. Basically, they're hoping to
develop a new generation of technologies and equipment, and need a testbed.
The have dash is the testbed.

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