Missiles play an important role in national and international air and missile defence. However, they need to be developed constantly in order to keep in step with upcoming future threats. The objective of project FK2020+ is to develop and verify innovative missile technologies and methods, for one in order to improve the performance of guided missiles, for another to develop tools and methods to develop and analyze missiles and missile technologies, for example in the frame of a threat analyses.
Emphasis is placed on technologies and methods in the fields of aero- and aerothermodynamics, missile control, use of innovative materials and structures made of carbon matrix composites (CMC), and innovative propulsion technologies like the use of air breathing ram- and scramjets, or the use of gelled propellants. Thereby all investigations are oriented on reference missile configurations that represent certain classes of missiles, thus enabling to take interactions between missile components and system aspects into account. Special focus of project FK2020+ is thereby on the new class of hypersonic missiles.
The Institute of Aerodynamics and Flow Technology - as largest stakeholder - does contribute to all technology fields mentioned above. Further on, the design and analysis of the reference missile configurations as well as the overall project lead are within the institute’s responsibilities.
FK2020+ is a German Federal Ministry of Defence (BMVg) basic funded research project within DLR research framework of Defence Technology.