CONFERENCE PROGRAMME RAeS Weapon Systems & Technology CAN THE UK JOIN THE HYPERSONIC WEAPONS RACE? Lead Sponsor: Drinks Reception Sponsor: Refreshment Breaks Sponsor: 21 NOVEMBER 2019 / LONDON 08:30 Registration & Refreshments 09:00 WELCOME & OPENING REMARKS Speaker: Tim Marshall FRAeS, Chairman, RAeS Weapon Systems & Technology Specialist Group 09:15 KEYNOTE ADDRESS Speaker: Sir Simon Bollom KBE CB FREng FRAeS, Chief Executive, Defence Equipment & Support SESSION ONE Session Chair: Tim Marshall FRAeS, Chairman, RAeS Weapon Systems & Technology Specialist Group 09:45 1) THE EMERGING HYPERSONIC WEAPONS THREAT AND ITS OPERATIONAL AND STRATEGIC IMPLICATIONS Synopsis: This paper will examine the emerging hypersonic weapons threat and its operational and strategic implications. Dr Bosbotinis will firstly discuss the characteristics of hypersonic and high-speed weapons. Proceeding from this, he will examine the rationale for and development of hypersonic weapon systems in Russia and China. With regard to Russia, this presentation will consider the development of hypersonic weapons within the context of Moscow’s efforts to acquire a precision strike capability, including a conventional strategic deterrent, and to counter US missile defence systems. Regarding China, the presentation will examine Chinese efforts to acquire hypersonic systems within the context of the wider development of a broad-based precision strike capability. The presentation will conclude with a discussion of the operational and strategic implications of hypersonic weapons. This will particularly consider defending against hypersonic threats, the utility of a hypersonic strike capability, and the potential strategic coercive effect of hypersonic weapons. Speaker: Dr James Bosbotinis, Co-CEO, JB Associates 10:15 2) TBC Synopsis: TBC Speaker: Dr Thomas Bussing, Vice President - Advanced Missile Systems, Raytheon 10:45 3) THE ROAD TO HYPERSONICS - KEY CHALLENGES, ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES Synopsis: Development of efficient machines that can routinely operate in the atmosphere at speeds exceeding Mach 5 offers intriguing advantages such as global range in under an hour, increased survivability, and affordable space launch. Fundamental vehicle phenomena and technologies critical to practical and efficient hypersonic flight are discussed with associated key challenges, advantages, and disadvantages. Speaker: Dr David Hunn, Director, Technology and Innovation, Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control 11:15 Networking Refreshment Break SESSION TWO Session Chair: Bernard Chan MRAeS, Systems Engineer, Lockheed Martin UK Ltd. 11:45 4) THE CHALLENGES OF HYPERSONIC SYSTEMS TO DEFENCE ARCHITECTURES Synopsis: The UK Missile Defence Centre (MDC) is the MOD’s centre of excellence for Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD). Through the MOD’s Science and Technology (S&T) Programme the MDC, working in partnership with its industry suppliers, and in collaboration with international partners, helps inform and advise government on BMD and related issues and promotes opportunities for UK Industry. This brief will outline the MDC’s role and how it is developing its thinking in understanding the challenge of mitigating hypersonic systems across the “five tenets of BMD”: Counter Proliferation, Deterrence, Counter Force, Active Defence and Passive Defence. Specifically, using open sources, the brief will consider hypersonic vehicle design considerations as well as the associated challenges that sensor and www.aerosociety.com/WST19 CONFERENCE PROGRAMME RAeS Weapon Systems & Technology CAN THE UK JOIN THE HYPERSONIC WEAPONS RACE? Lead Sponsor: Drinks Reception Sponsor: Refreshment Breaks Sponsor: 21 NOVEMBER 2019 / LONDON Command and Control (C2) architectures must overcome to help mitigate the hypersonic threat. Speaker: Paul Dack FRAeS, Chief Scientist, UK Missile Defence Centre, Ministry of Defence 12:15 5) PRACTICAL APPROACH TO COUNTERING A HYPERSONIC CRUISE MISSILE Synopsis: This presentation provides a system- and subsystem-level analysis of an interceptor, composed of multiple sub-interceptors, designed to engage a hypersonic cruise missile. The design approach allows for interceptor launch while the target uncertainty volume is still comparatively large. Technical details, design tradeoffs, suggested hardware and areas of future development are given. Speaker: John Markow, Researcher, Cranfield University 12:45 Networking Lunch SESSION THREE Session Chair: Gregory Nichols, Assistant Chief Airworthiness Engineer, BAE Systems 13:45 6) HIGH MACH AND HYPERSONICS - UK INNOVATION AND INSPIRING THE UK ECOSYSTEM Speaker: Ian Muldowney FRAeS, Engineering Director – Air, BAE Systems Synopsis: TBC 14:15 7) BENEFITS TO THE UK FROM EUROPEAN HIGH-SPEED WEAPON PROGRAM COOPERATION Synopsis: The UK has undertaken a number of high-speed weapon programmes in the last thirty years, including the cooperative Meteor programme. This cooperation has provided the UK with access to world-class technologies, and with UK technologies and systems engineering has enabled the delivery of UK sovereign weapon system capability. UK skills and experience are generated in exploiting and engineering those high speed weapon technologies, not just in aerodynamics, propulsion and seekers, but also in structures, warheads, guidance and navigation. This design knowledge, with the access to test and manufacture facilities of cooperation partners, provides opportunity for upgrade paths that can enhance weapon capability to meet the evolving threat. Cooperation also provides opportunity through shared investment into low TRL technologies, tools and test and evaluation facilities. This can continue to offer the UK future strike and air defence programme options that deliver sovereign capability to maintain the advantage against the evolving threat. Speaker: Peter Hall, Head of Aerodynamics, MBDA UK Speaker: Andrew Pyle, Technical Advisor, MBDA UK 14:45 8) HYPERSONIC DELIVERY VEHICLES – A CROSSROADS FOR THE UK NUCLEAR DETERRENT Synopsis: Following the breakdown of the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, the quantity and quality of deployed missile defences have increased. Given, for example, deterioration in UK-Russia relations, and the UK’s commitment to a minimum credible nuclear deterrent, circumstances could lead to the development of a hypersonic delivery vehicle for UK nuclear weapons. However, such systems have raised concerns in the arms control community of incentivising nuclear first strikes. Doubts have also arisen over the reliability of the US as a partner. This adds further pressure to keep Britain’s nuclear deterrent relevant and credible. Alternative approaches exist. Focus could be moved instead to developing improved countermeasures or manoeuvrable reentry vehicles for our existing nuclear missiles. Preserving our alliance with the US - and exploring technological alternatives - is the best thing the UK can do to keep its nuclear arsenal minimal, credible but also stabilising, while minimising the impact on our disarmament obligations. Speaker: Martin Everett, Science & Security MA Student, Kings College London www.aerosociety.com/WST19 CONFERENCE PROGRAMME RAeS Weapon Systems & Technology CAN THE UK JOIN THE HYPERSONIC WEAPONS RACE? Lead Sponsor: Drinks Reception Sponsor: Refreshment Breaks Sponsor: 21 NOVEMBER 2019 / LONDON 15:15 Networking Refreshment Break SESSION FOUR Session Chair: Nick Honey FRAeS, Principal Engineer, QinetiQ 15:45 9) UK HYPERSONIC GLIDE VEHICLE CONCEPT AND PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT Synopsis: This presentation will capture the configuration of a postulated UK Hypersonic Glide Vehicle concept HGV. The proposal is entirely conceptual based on a quick-look assessment and the thoughts of the author based on experience of the domain. The presentation will include some of the steps needed in the vehicle design process and the proposed solution. The concept is an air-launched rocket boosted system for medium range (<3,000km) conventional strike in a high threat environment. The presentation will consider the overall system design in terms of size, weight, aerodynamic characteristics and on-board sensors. The presentation will also capture assessments based on computational modelling in terms of maximum range, speed and optimal flight profile taking into account physical constraints (dynamic and aerothermal loads) and the ability to divert around stay-out zones. Speaker: David Hunter, Principal Scientist, Dstl 16:15 10) NAVIGATION-ORIENTED MODELLING OF A HYPERSONIC MISSILE Synopsis: This presentation seeks to introduce key modelling elements of hypersonic missiles to reduce future error and allow the production of reasonable fidelity hypersonic missile models suitable for real-world application. This includes the accurate modelling of the rotating, oblate-spheroid Earth which requires the use of the WGS84 datum used ubiquitously in the modelling of long-range, high-speed flight. Additionally, the presentation serves as a signpost to future hypersonic research specifically related to the modelling process. Finally, the presentation seeks to quantify the results of including higher-fidelity elements throughout the modelling process. Speaker: Ayden Clay, PhD Student, Cranfield University 16:45 CLOSING REMARKS & THANKS Speaker: Tim Marshall FRAeS, Chairman, RAeS Weapon Systems & Technology Specialist Group 17:00 Conference Concludes 17:15 Networking Drinks Reception - Argyll Room (First Floor) www.aerosociety.com/WST19.