Northrop Grumman has opened a Hypersonics Capability Center at its Elkton, Maryland, facility. The move will help to usher in a new era of military readiness and to produce advanced propulsion solutions that can power hypersonic missiles beyond Mach 5.
Need for Speed
The aerodynamics textbook definition of “hypersonic” is travel at Mach 5 or greater — more than five times the speed of sound, almost a mile each second. Long-range hypersonic vehicles often utilize a scramjet engine, which leverages the vehicle’s high speed to compress incoming air through a special inlet into a combustion chamber.
Creating the Cutting Edge
Northrop Grumman's Elkton campus continues its legacy of supporting industry firsts.