SBIR-STTR Award

Knobley Technical Associates, LLC's baseline Phase I proposed program for the Navy's SBIR Solicitation Topic Number N121-014 for Low-Erosion and Affordable Nozzles for Advanced Air-to-Air Missiles will identify and evaluate in a trade study, a series of emerging and innovative nozzle technologies and design architectures that can be cost effectively used in high-performance reduced-signature energy managed dual pulse solid propellant rocket motor propulsion systems for next generation advanced tactical air supremacy missiles. As planned, KTA's proposed Phase I SBIR program will seamlessly transition from identifying and selecting a candidate high performance nozzle system design archecture and material implimentation in the 5 task baseline program phase into a three task Option task in which a prototype nozzle system with the most promising design features and technologies emerging from the baseline trade studies will be designed, fabricated and demonstrated in a rocket motor static test firing to demonstrate the operational functionality and feasibility of the affordable, high performance nozzle system to withstand the high temperature, oxidative, long-duration, multi-thermal shock environments as would be induced in a tactical rocket motor operational application. KTA's nozzle material trade studies will include evaluation of state of the art nozzle insulation materials and erosion resistant throat materials as well as the emerging Ceramic Matrix Composite, boundary layer cooling technologies, carbon/silica carbide type materials, pyrolytic graphite and the electroformed high temperature resistant Re and Re/W metal alloy type shell structures and integration approaches for integrating into a tactical rocket motor nozzlesystem.

Benefit:
The nozzle technology studies of the proposed Phase I SBIR program will serve to identify and advance the technology readiness level (TRL) concerning affordable, lighweight and erosion-resistant nozzle systems that are configured for use in next generation, energy managed air-launched tactical rocket motors.

Keywords:
ceramic matrix composites, ceramic matrix composites, Low-Non Eroding Nozzles, Sidewinder, Affodable Nozzles, Pulse Motors

Advance the TRL level of highly-loaded rate-augmented multi-pulse reduced-signature propellant solid propulsion system nozzle technologies selected in Phase I by developing desigh architectures and a credible materials data base required to establish accurate analytical design models and verifying design/materials performance through sub-scale and full-diameter prototype motor tests.

Benefit:
Further advancement of the technology readiness level (TRL) and reduction of development risk associated with incorporating an advanced highly-loaded rate-augmented multi-pulse grain solid propulsion system in the next generation surface and air-launched tactical missile system.

Keywords:
ceramic, Hot Wall, substrate, Nozzle System, reduced signature rate-augmented highly-loaded propellant grain, Throat Package, Insulation, Ablatice