The Lockheed Martin BGM-178 RATTLRS (Revolutionary Approach To Time-critical Long Range Strike) was an advanced cruise missile concept demonstration funded by the US Navy with the view to develop technologies that would then be used to develop a successor to the BGM-109 Tomahawk. The five year contract was awarded on 1 March 2004.Revolutionary Approach To Time Critical Long Range Strike Project (RATTLRS) It is a possible solution to hypersonic cruise missile systems for the United States.
Lockheed’s Skunk Works was the prime contractor, while Rolls-Royce Liberty Works was designing the YJ102R high-Mach turbine engine. The missile's airframe bears resemblance to the BrahMos missile, and is similar in size and shape to the engine nacelle of the SR-71, or to the D-21 drone.Mach 3 missile advances -04/07/2006-Flight International The missile's airframe design would enable it to cruise at very high speeds to strike a target over 1,000 kilometers in less than 30 minutes. The missile would be ideal for engaging on-the-move or about to move targets, and could possibly be a suitable anti-ship missile, utilizing its tremendous speed to evade enemy CIWS defenses.
In comparison to the Russian-Indian BrahMos, the RATTLRS is slightly slower, but has double, if not triple the range, and has a larger variety of launch platforms, since it has the capability to launch from the Mk. 41 VLS system, as well as a multitude of American aircraft.
Specifications
Name: RATTLRS (Revolutionary Approach to Time Critical Long Range Strike) Type: Long-range hypersonic cruise missile test vehicle Developed: Lockheed Martin, Raytheon Length: 21 ft
Diameter: 520 mm Engine: Rolls-Royce YJ102R turbojet Warhead: 500 lbs penetrating HE or submunition dispensing warhead Cruise speed: Mach 3+ Range: 500+ nm (1,000+ km) Platforms: air-launched or even surface launchedPopular Mechanics: It's More Powerful Than A Blackbird (And It Fits In The Trunk)
References
External links https://web.archive.org/web/20080908014742/http://www.lockheedmartin.com/news/press_releases/2006/LOCKHEEDMARTINDEMONSTRATESPENETRATO.html Lockheed Martin RATTLRS at Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles Popular Mechanics: It's More Powerful Than A Blackbird (And It Fits In The Trunk) ONR RATTLRS fact sheet Archived